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Applied   Business 
Punctuation 

and 

Business  Forms 


By 
HUBERT  A.  HAGAR 


1909 
The  Gregg  Publishing  Company 

New   York  Chicago 


Copyright,  1909,  By  John  R.  Gregg 


CONTENTS 


PUNCTUATION 

PAGE 

Introduction 5 

Lesson     1.     The   Period 7 

Lesson     2.     The   Interrogation   Point 11 

The  Exclamation   Point 12 

Lesson     3.     The    Semicolon 17 

The    Colon 18 

Lesson     4.     The  Comma 25 

Lesson     5.     The   Dash 33 

The    Parenthesis 34 

Brackets    35 

Lesson     6.     Quotation  Marks 39 

CAPITALIZATION 
Lesson     7 47 

CORRESPONDENCE 

Lesson     8.     Business  Correspondence  and  Correct  Forms 53 

Lesson     9.     The  Parts  of  a  Letter 57 

Lesson  10.     Suggestions  for  the  Business  Letter  Writer 67 

Lesson  11.     The  Letter  of  Application 73 


305441 


PUNCTUATION 


INTRODUCTION 

Punctuation  is  the  use  of  different  characters  to  separate  words,  elements, 
and  sentences  in  such  a  way  as  to  help  to  convey  to  the  reader  the  exact  thought 
of  the  writer. 

Every  one  who  reads  and  writes  English,  or  any  other  language,  has  some 
knowledge  of  punctuation.  Many  persons  punctuate  well  without  ever  having 
made  any  systematic  study  of  the  subject.  In  fact,  comparatively  few  make  a 
study  of  punctuation.  To  study  literature  is  to  study  punctuation.  Every- 
thing one  reads  or  writes  is  a  study  in  punctuation,  for  in  order  to  either  read 
or  write  understandingly  a  definite  regard  must  be  given  to  the  marks  that 
bring  out  the  different  shades  of  meaning.  Conversely,  a  study  of  punctuation 
is  a  study  of  language,  of  the  balance  and  value  of  words  and  their  relation  to 
each  other.  The  understanding  of  the  ideas  intended  to  be  conveyed  by  the 
words  used  is  the  basis  for  good  punctuation,  for  one  cannot  punctuate  what 
he  does  not  understand. 

Any  one  who  has  formed  a  habit  of  accurate  reading,  even  if  his  reading 
has  been  somewhat  limited,  should  be  able  to  punctuate  fairly  well.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  his  reading  has  been  slip-shod,  his  punctuation  is  apt  to  partake  of 
that  characteristic.  A  careful  observation  of  the  punctuation  in  one  chapter  of 
a  well-written  book,  or  in  an  editorial  from  a  high-grade  newspaper  or  maga- 
zine, will  result  in  a  grasping  of  the  principles  of  the  subject — for  there  are 
general  underlying  principles. 

People  are  apt  to  excuse  faults  in  their  punctuation  by  the  statement  that 
"no  two  punctuate  exactly  alike."  True,  in  a  long  article  punctuated  by  differ- 
ent persons  there  would  usually  be  some  difference,  owing  to  the  fact  that  they 
would  not  gather  exactly  the  same  ideas  or  see  the  same  relations,  and  this 
difference  in  understanding  would  be  shown  by  a  difference  in  their  punctuation. 

Many  persons  attempt  to  make  a  distinction  between  "literary  punctuation" 
and  "commercial  punctuation."  There  is  a  difference  between  the  commonl)'- 
termed  "literary  style"  and  the  "commercial  style"  of  composition,  but  not  of 
punctuation.  General  literature  commonly  employs  longer  sentences  than  com- 
mercial composition,  and  this  explains  any  difference  in  punctuation.  If  it  were 
customary  to  deal  with  long  sentences  in  commercial  work,  then  more  punctua- 
tion would  be  required.  The  principles  of  punctuation  are  always  the  same, 
the  difference  being  in  the  composition. 


6  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

It  would  be  an  easy  matter  vvlien  studying  punctuation  to  stray  unwittingly 
into  the  realm  of  composition,  for  good  punctuation  presupposes  good  composi- 
tion. One  writer  says,  "It  is  vain  to  propose,  by  arbitrary  punctuation,  to 
amend  the  defects  of  a  sentence,  to  correct  its  ambiguity,  or  to  prevent  its  con- 
fusion." Nevertheless,  an  intelligent  use  of  punctuation  marks  will  often  help 
to  unlock  the  imprisoned  thought  in  involved  or  poorly-constructed  sentences. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  stenographer,  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  transcribe 
and  punctuate  the  words  of  another,  ^^^■lile  in  some  instances  the  stenographer 
is  at  liberty  to  "edit"  what  he  transcribes,  ordinarily  he  is  supposed  to  make 
few,  if  any,  changes  in  wording  or  arrangement.  Then  the  problem  is  often  how 
to  punctuate  so  as.  in  some  degree,  to  compensate  for  faulty  construction,  and 
the  efficient  stenographer  recognizes  this  as  being  within  his  province. 

The  punctuation  marks  we  shall  consider  are  the  Period  (.),  Interrogation 
point  (?),  Exclamation  point  (  !),  Colon  (:),  Semicolon  (;),  Comma  (.), 
Dash  (' — ),  Parentheses  (  ),  Brackets  (  [  ]  ),  and  Quotation  marks  ("  "). 

The  lessons  that  are  to  be  punctuated  by  the  student  are  important.  Their 
marking  will  serve  as  a  visible  proof  of  his  understanding  of  the  work  gone 
over.* 


*J.  Clifford  Kennedy,  Punctuation  Simplified. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


LESSON  I 


THE    PERIOD 

1.  When  the  Period  Should  Be  Used 

The  period  should  be  used  at  the  end  of  a  complete  declarative  or  impera- 
tive sentence,  after  initials,  usually  after  abbreviations,  to  separate  hours  from 
minutes,  whole  numbers  from  their  decimal  fractions,  after  Arabic  numerals 
used  to  number  a  list  of  subjects,  paragraphs  or  parts  of  paragraphs,  after  side- 
heads  placed  at  the  beginning  of  paragraphs,  after  titles  when  followed  by  the 
name  and  author,  and  after  the  address  and  signature  of  letters ;  as, 

1.  We  received  your  telegram  this  morning. 

2.  Please  send  us  one  dozen  noiseless  erasers. 

3.  J.  G.  Whittier,  J.  G.  Holland. 

4.  Mr.,  Esq.,  M.  D.,  G.  F.  A.,  C.  O.  D.,  f.  o.  b.,  inst.,  viz.,  i.  e.,  et  al.,  etc. 

5.  Train  arrives  at  7.30  a.m.  and  leaves  at  7.40  a.m. 

6.  $4.80,4.006. 

7.  HISTORY 

1.  The  Colonial  Period 

2.  The  Confederation 

3.  The  Constitutional  Period 

8.  Break-down  Test. — This  test  was  made  for  break-down  at  a  potential  of  2,000 

volts. 

9.  Classified  Commercial  Correspondence.-^Caro/jw!  H.  Locke. 

10.  Baltimore,  Md.,  May  19,  1909 

Carter  Publishing  Company, 
85  Wabash  Avenue, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 

2.  When  the  Period  Should  Not  Be  Used 

The  period  should  not  be  used  after  headings  of  chapters,  subheadings,  run- 
ning titles,  Roman  numerals,  items  in  tabulated  matter,  contractions,  abbrevia- 
tions that  have  come  to  be  words  in  themselves,  nicknames,  1st,  2d,  3d,  etc.,  and 
after  displayed  lines  on  title  pages  ;  as, 

1.  Chapter  III,  Third  Lesson,  Mortgage  Deed 

2.  Rules  for  forming  plurals  of  nouns 

3.  Louis  IX,  Book  III 

4.  Please  ship  via  S.  P.  R.  R.  the  following: 

20  bbl.  Cream  Meal 
5  bbl.  Family  Flour 
50  lb.  Rice 
100  lb.  Sugar. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


5.  Sec'y.  Ass'n,  Feb'y 

6.  ad,  per  cent 

7.  Ben,  Sam,  Dick,  Bess 

8.  4th.  22d,  23d 

9.  HIS    O  W'  N    PEOPLE 

by 

BOOTH  TARKIXGTON 

New  York 

Doubleday,  Page  &  Co. 

1907 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION                           <) 
Name Grade 

EXERCISE  1 

Insert  the  periods  in  the  following: 

(Deduct  two  per  cent   for  each   error.) 

1  It  was  6  per  cent  of  the  gross  earnings 

2  He  bought  10  lb,  6  oz  of  sugar 

3  It  is  10  30  a  m  and  he  will  be  here  at  12  m 

4  I  shall  call  to  see  you  on  the  10th  inst 

5  The  G  P  T  A  and  the  AGFA  attended  the  convention 

6  Ind,  Jan,  State  St,  Alessrs,  etc,  inst,  ult,  prox 

7  Tom    Brown,    Fred   Jones,   Jno    Smith,  and   Jos    Thomas    were   classmates   at   Yale 

College 

8  Beginnings  of  Rhetoric  and  Composition — A  S  Hill 

9  Chapter  II,  Classification  of  Nouns 

10  830  Michigan  ave  , 

St    Louis,   Mo,  Jan    1,   1909 
Ginn  &  Co  ,  Publishers, 
Studebaker  Bldg , 
Chicago 
Gentlemen : 

When  may  I  expect  the  shipment  of  books  that  I  ordered  on  the  25th  ult? 
I  hope  to  hear  from  you  soon 

Yours  truly, 

Wm    T    James, 

Pres 


APPLIED  BUS IX ESS  PUNCTUATION  11 

LESSON   II 


THE  INTERROGATION  POINT 

1.  Direct  Questions 

The  interrogation  point  marks  the  end  of  a  direct  question ;  that  is,  a  ques- 
tion that  requires  an  answer ;   as, 

1.  Are  these  the  best  apples  that  you  have? 

2.  What  price  would  you  ask  us  a  dozen? 

3.  Why  ask  the  teacher  or  some  classmate  to  solve  that  hard  problem? 

2.  Indirect  Questions 

The  interrogation  point  should  not  be  used  after  an  indirect  question;  that 
is,  one  that  does  not  require  an  answer ;   as, 

1.  He  asked  me  if  I  would  call  at  his  office  to-morrow. 

2.  The  question,  Will  I,  is  seldom  used. 

3.  He  was  asked  the  question.  Who  goes  there,  but  received  no  answer. 

3.  Sentences  Partly  Interrogative 

The  interrogation  point  should  be  used  after  a  question  occurring  within 
a  declarative  or  imperative  sentence ;  as, 

1.  "What  have  you  to  say?"  he  demanded. 

2.  "Is  he  not  able  to  pay  the  money?"  asked  Portia. 

3.  Can  we  trust  him? — knowing  that  he  has  twice  refused  to  pay  for  goods  bought 

of  us,  and  that  at  present  his  financial  standing  is  not  the  best. 

4.  Series  of  Questions 

The  interrogation  point  is  placed  after  each  separate  question  in  a  com- 
pound interrogative  sentence ;   as, 

1.  Can  the  property  be  exchanged  for  Lake  Forest  acres?  or  can  it  be  exchanged 

at  all? 

2.  Has  the  company  made  any  report  on  this  item  yet?  and  will  you  kindly  advise 

us  over  what  road  you  returned  it? 

3.  Was  the  bruise  in  the  flesh?  or  did  it  extend  to  the  bone?    "W'&s  it  on  the  heel? 

or  on  the  toes?  or  on  the  instep? 
Observation. — When  the  sentences  are  complete  in  themselves,  each   should  begin 
with  a  capital  letter. 

5.  Questions  Not  Complete  until  End  of  Sentence 

When  a  sentence  is  not  complete  until  the  end  of  the  sentence  is  reached, 
the  interrogation  point  is  placed  at  the  end  of  the  sentence ;   as, 

1.  Which  do  you  prefer,  the  brown  or  the  green  binding? 

2.  Which  order  shall  I  ship  first,  the  books  or  the  furniture? 

3.  When  shall  we  come,  to-dav  or  to-morrow? 


12  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

THE   EXCLAMATION    POINT 

1.  Interjections  and  Exclamatory  Expressions 

The  exclamation  point  is  placed  after  exclamatory  expressions  that  indi- 
cate emotion,  and  after  interjections  when  they  express  strong  emotion;  but  .if 
the  emotion  expressed  belongs  to  the  whole  sentence,  the  point  of  exclamation 
is  placed  after  the  entire  expression  rather  than  after  the  interjection;  as, 

1.  Wait !    you  are  angry,  and  you  are  forgetting  yourself. 

2.  Oh,  stop  that !    you  are  ill-mannered. 

3.  O  wise  young  judge,  how  I  do  honor  you ! 

2.  Exclamatory  Sentences  in  the  Form  of  Questions 

The  exclamation  point  is  placed  after  sentences  that  are  interrogative  in 
form  but  exclamatory  in  spirit ;  as, 

1.  But  what  awak'st  thou  in  the  heart,  0  spring! 

2.  Oh,  where  can  rest  be  found! 

Observation. — When  words  are  required  to  complete  the  thought  the  first  word 
following  the  exclamation  point  does  not  begin  with  a  capital  letter. 

3.  O  and  Oh 

The  vocative  "O"  is  properl}-  prefixed  to  an  expression  in  a  direct  address 
and  is  sometimes  followed  by  a  comma,  but  should  never  be  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  an  exclamation  point.  "Oh"  is  used  to  express  surprise,  delight,  fear, 
grief,  pain,  or  aspiration,  and  may  be  followed  by  either  a  comma  or  an  excla- 
mation point ;  as, 

1.  O  my  countrj-men  ! 

2.  O,  stay!    (Indicates  a  wish.) 

3.  O  John  !   come  here. 

4.  Oh !    where  did  you  see  him  ? 

5.  Oh,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you ! 

6.  Oh,  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave 
When  first  we  practice  to  deceive! — Scott. 

7.  Now  she  is  in  her  grave,  and  oh ! 

The  difiference  to  me ! — Wordsworth. 

4.  Repetition  of  Exclamation  Point 

The  exclamation  point  is  most  effective  when  used  sparingly.  It  is,  how- 
ever, sometimes  repeated  for  emphasis ;    as, 

1.  Fire !  Fire  ! !  Fire ! ! ! 

2.  Ha,  ha,  ha  !   Tell  that  again  ! 

3.  "Farewell !"  she  sobbed,  "farewell !   farewell !   farewell !" 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


Name Gtadc 

EXERCISE  2 
Insert  the  periods,  interrogation  points,   and  exclamation  points   in   the 

following:  (Deduct  two  per  cent   for   each   error.) 

1  Will  you  kindly  endeavor  to  effect  a  settlement  through  3-our  department 

2  The  only  question  is,  How  should  these  laws  be  modified  or  extended  to  best  meet 

American  conditions 

3  If  you  are  still  looking  for  advancement,  will  you  kindly  send  me  a  formal  application 

stating  your  experience  and  qualifications 

4  Shall  we  do  this  work  or  shall  we  return  the  curtains  to  you  for  repairs 

5  Which  do  you  prefer  the  money  or  the  books 

6  Two-thirds  of  all  the  wholesale  grocers  in  the  United  States  are  subscribers  to  the 

"Commercial,"  but  we  want  all 

7  "Pray,  what  is  that"  inquired  the  prince 

8  "How  was  that,  Jim"  I  asked 

9  "Well,  who  knows  anything  about  it"  he  questioned 

10  What's  become  of  Jim  Brown  of  Jack  Winters  of  all  the  boys 

11  You  how  dare  you  come  back 

12  Help  help  will  no  one  try  to  rescue  him 

13  Have  you  studied  Lesson  VH 

14  I  think  it  is  proper,  don't  you,  that  some  action  should  be  taken 

15  A  Daniel  come  to  judgment 

16  O  wise  young  judge,  how  I  do  honor  you 

17  How  much  elder  are  you  than  your  looks 

18  War  the  world's  had  war  enough 

19  Is  he  not  able  to  pay  the  money  asked  Portia 

20  But  does  any  one  speak  with  serious  disparagement  of  the  young  Ferdinands  of  our 

elder  friend  of  Billikens  and  Squire  Purdy 

21  And  is  not  this  boy  nature  and  human,  too  and  do  we  not  wish  a  house  on  fire  not  to 

be  out  until  we  see  it 

22  Indeed,  what  is  there  that  does  not  appear  marvelous  when  it  comes  to  our  knowledge 

for  the  first  time    How  many  things,  too,  are  looked  upon  as  quite  impossible  until 
they  have  been  actually  effected — Pliny 

23  You  know  who  critics  are — the  men  who  have  failed  in  literature  and  art — Disraeli 

24  If  I  were  an  American,  as  I  am  an  Englishman,  while  a  foreign  troop  was  landed  in 

my  country,  I  never  would  lay  down  my  arms, — never  never  never — Pitt 

25  There,  sir,  an  attack  upon  ray  language    What  do  you  think  of  that     An  aspersion 

upon  my  parts  of  speech — Sheridan 

26  O,  sir,  I  must  not  tell  my  age 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  15 


Name Grade „ 

EXERCISE  3 

Insert  the  periods  and  interrogation  points  in  the  following  letter: 

(Deduct  three  per  cent  for  each  error.) 

Chicago,   111.  May  17,  1909 
Mr  Ben  Miller,  Pres, 

Union  Steel  Co, 

Indianapolis,  Ind 
Dear  Sir: 

In  answer  to  yours  of  the  15th  inst,  would. say  that  your  shipment  left  Chicago, 
Tuesday,  Jan  5,  at  two  p  m  via  the  C  C  &  St  L  R  R  The  shipment  went  COD  We  are 
in  position  to  offer  you  the  following  easy  terms,  if  desired  ;  viz : 

15  per  cent  if  paid  in  10  days 
10      "      "     "      "      "  30      " 
5      "      "     "      "      "  60      " 
In  regard  to  the  table  oilcloth,  we  can  make  you  a  price  on  the  Xo  2  of  $160  per  yard, 
net ;  i  e,  if  you  are  in  position  to  pa)'  cash  with  order 

When  shall  I  ship  No  3  linoleum  or  do  j'ou  wish  us  to  hold  it  until  the  Xo  4  is  read. 
Will  J'OU  kindly  let  us  know  if  the  terms  are  satisfactory 

Yours   respectfully, 
Theo  M  Scott  &  Co, 

Theo  M  Scott, 

Pres 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  17 

LESSON   III 


THE  SEMICOLON 

1.  Members  of  a  Compound  Sentence 

The  semicolon  is  used  to  separate  short  members  of  compound  sentences, 
or  when  the  members  have  very  sHght  connection ;   as, 

1.  Send  the  best  goods  obtainable;  spare  no  expense  on  them. 

2.  The  general  prosperity  can  be  seen  on  every  hand;  the  farmers  were  never  so 

well  off;  manufacturers  are  far  behind  in  their  orders;  mercantile  business  is 
unusually  large ;  while  the  railroads  are  blockaded  with  freight  and  are  com- 
plaining of  a  shortage  of  freight  cars. 

3.  There  is  an  absence  of  intellectuality;  the  work  of  copyists  everywhere  abounds. 

2.  Expressions  in  a  Series 

The  semicolon  is  used  to  separate  expressions  in  a  series,  dependent  upon 
an  introductory  or  a  final  clause;    as, 

1.  We  can  supply  you  with  a  ledger  containing  1000  pages,  divided  as  follows :    650 

pages,  with  two  accounts  or  divisions ;  125  pages,  three  divisions ;  225  pages, 
six  divisions. 

2.  H.  H.  Hatch,  being  duly  sworn,  says  that  he  is  the  defendant  herein ;  that  he  has 

read  the  foregoing  complaint,  and  knows  the  contents  thereof ;  that  the  same 
is  true  according  to  his  own  knowledge,  etc. 

3.  If  we  think  of  glory  in  the  field;   of  wisdom   in  the  cabinet;   of  the  purest 

patriotism ;  of  morals  without  a  stain — the  august  figure  of  Washington 
presents  itself  as  the  personification  of  all  these  ideas. 

S.     Semicolon  before  "But,"  "Otherwise,"  "Also,"  "Therefore" 

Many  clauses  introduced  by  such  words  as  "but,"  "otherwise,"  "also," 
"therefore,"  and  "for,"  denoting  contrast,  reference,  or  explanation,  should  be 
preceded  by  a  semicolon  ;  as, 

1.  There  will  be  no  extra  charge  for  these  goods;  but  for  all  future  deliveries  an 

additional  charge  of  40  cents  a  thousand  will  be  made.  • 

2.  If  you  cannot  use  these  goods  at  this  price,  you  are  at  liberty  to  return  them  to 

us  and  we  will  credit  your  account ;  otherwise,  kindly  send  us  check  for  the 
amount  deducted. 

3.  The  study  of  grammar  is  very  beneficial  to  the  stenographer;  for  it  helps  him  to 

detect  his  errors  in  speaking  and  writing. 

4.     Members  of  a  Compound  Sentence  Punctuated  with  Commas 

The  semicolon  is  placed  between  the  members  of  a  compound  sentence 
when  the  members  themselves  are  subdivided  by  commas ;    as, 

1.  The  car  of  oats  goes  forward  to-morrow;    the  car  of  corn,  Saturday. 

2,  He  went  back,  after  considerable  delay,  and  hunted  for  it;  but  it  had  been  picked 

up  in  the  meantime. 


18  .    APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

3.  Yet  here  were  thousands  upon  thousands  of  pictures,  painted  with  laborious  art, 
and  these  m  turn  selected  from  other  thousands ;  and  not  ten  really  great 
paintings  amongst  them  all  upon  which  three  out  of  five  persons  could  agree. 

5.     Semicolon  before  "Viz.,"  I.  e.,"  "E.  g.,"  "Namely,"  "To-wit,"  "As,"  etc. 
Such  expressions  as  "viz.,"  "i.  e.,"  "e.  g.,"  "namely,"  "to-wit,"  "as,"  etc., 
are  usually  preceded  by  a  semicolon  and  followed  by  a  comma  when  used  to 
introduce  an  example  or  an  illustration ;   as, 

1.  I  have  three  requests  to  make  of  you;  namely,  be  punctual  in  getting  to  the  office; 

finish  your  work  each  day;  and  treat  office  matters  as  confidential. 

2.  Oliver  P.  Morton  was  Indiana's  war  governor;  i.  e.,  he  was  governor  during  the 

Civil  War. 


THE  COLON 

1.  Formal  Introduction  to  an  Enumeration  of  Items  or  Particulars 

The  colon  is  used  after  a  formal  introduction  to  an  enumeration  of  items 
or  particulars ;  as, 

1.  We  are  to-day  shipping  you  the  following: 

100  bu.  Potatoes 
25  bbl.  Apples 
10  bbl.  Flour. 

2.  Chicago  is  divided  into  three  divisions :    the  West  side,  the  South  side,  and  the 

North  side.    , 

3.  I  cannot  do  that  for  two  reasons :    first,  I  am  not  a  member  of  the  state  com- 

mittee, and  am  therefore  not  eligible ;    second.  Chairman  Smith  is  a  more 
experienced  man  than  I  am. 

2.  Before  Quotations 

A  colon  is  used  after  a  formal  introduction  to  a  quotation ;  as, 

1.  We  confirm  our  telegram  of  even  date,  as  follows : 
"Materials  higher.    ]\Iake  limited  sales  to-day." 

2.  The  President  writes  us   from   New  York :     "There  has  never  been   such  an 

increase  in  traffic  as  during  the  past  thirty  days." 

3.  We  quote  the  following  from  Gray's  "Elegy" : 

"The  curfew  tolls  the  knell  of  parting  day." 

3.  Compound  Sentences 

The  colon  is  used  between  the  members  of  compound  sentences  when  those 
members  are  not  closely  connected,  or  when  the  members  are  subdivided  by 
semicolons ;  as, 

1.  We  do  not  handle  this  quality  of  goods :  we  cannot  afford  to  run  the  risk  of 
iniuring  our  reputation  as  dealers  in  high-class  articles. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  19 

2.  If  you  cannot  make  use  of  the  ten  pairs  of  shoes  shipped  you  yesterday,  return 

them  at  our  expense;  or  if  you  can  dispose  of  them,  we  will  make  them  to 
you  at  $2.00  a  pair  net :  but  do  not  feel  under  any  obligations  to  keep  them, 
as  we  shall  be  glad  to  refill  the  order. 

3.  We  have  this  comfort :  we  have  company. 

4.  Small  debts  are  like  small  shot ;  they  rattle  on  every  side,  and  can  scarcely  be 

escaped  without  a  wound :  great  debts  are  like  cannon ;  of  loud  noise,  but 
little  danger. — Johnson. 

4.  Introduction  to  a  Statement  or  Proposition 

A  colon  is  frequently  used  after  a  formal  introduction  to  a  statement  or  a 
proposition ;   as, 

1.  Referring  again  to  the  matters  of  your  past  due  account :    we   are   somewhat 

surprised  that  we  have  not  heard  from  you,  etc. 

2.  It  happens  as  with  cages :    the  birds  without  despair  of  getting  in,  and  those 

within  despair  of  getting  out. — Montaigne. 

5.  Salutation  of  Letters 

The  colon  is  placed  after  the  salutation  of  letters ;  as, 
Dear  Sir: 
Dear  Sirs : 
My  dear  Friend : 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  21 


Name Grade. 

EXERCISE  4 


Insert  the  periods,  interrogation  points,   exclamation  points,  semicolons, 
and  colons  in  the  following:  (Deduct  two  per  cent  for  each  error.) 

1  We  mail  you  new  catalog  showing  the  cultivators,  as  you  requested  also  some  of  our 

new  Texas  cultivators 

2  We  insist  on  receiving  your  check  for  the  full  amount  now  due  us  by  the  15th  inst 

otherwise,  we  shall  place  this  account  in  the  hands  of  our  attorneys  for  collection 

3  Of  course,  there  may  be  exceptions,  as  in  the  case  of  Mr  L  Longman  but  if  so,  we 

prefer  to  have  you  make  the  conditions  in  writing 

4  In  answer  to  your  advertisement  Xo  913  Tribune    we  have  known  of  your  property 

No  9671  Woodlawn  Ave  for  some  time 

5  This  will  probably  be  ample  recommendation  as  to  our  responsibility  however,  we 

would  request  that  you  have  your  banker  look  up  our  standing 

6  Our  commission  with  your  firm  has  expired  nevertheless,  appreciating  the  courtesy 

shown  us  by  you  in  securing  orders  for  our  product,  we  are  pleased  to  continue 
a  flight  acknowledgment  to  you,  as  follows 

7  I  am  in  a  position  to  offer  you  the  property  at  a  very  low  figure  viz,  $500  yearly  for 

five  years,  and  the  rest  on  the  sixth  year 

8  We  are  unable  to  pay  your  bill  for  the  following  reason  Mr  Brown,  our  partner,  is 

out  of  the  city 

9  Specifications  are  All  parts  to  be  planed  two  sides  inside  measurement  of  the  box 

to  be  12x12x11"  after  dressing,  the  thickness  of  the  head  to  be  %",  and  of  the 
remainder  Y^' 

10  We  want  two  quotations  First,  for  the  sides  and  ends  in  one  piece,  tops  and  bottoms 

in  two  pieces,  tongued  and  grooved  where  they  are  pieced  Second,  all  the  parts 
in  one  piece 

11  If  a  note  is  lost  or  stolen,  it  does  not  release  the  maker  he  must  pay  it,  if  the  consider- 

ation for  which  it  was  given  and  the  amount  can  be  proved 

12  Since  talking  with  Mr   Smith,  I  have  been  promoted  to  the  superintendent's  office 

also,  I  have  received  quite  an  advance  in  salary 

13  I  found  three  kinds  namely,  violets,  anemones,  and  hepaticas 

14  You  may  have  the  position  i  e,  if  you  wish  to  accept  my  terms 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION                          23 
Name , Gmdc 

EXERCISE  5 

Insert  the  periods,  interrogation  points,  exclamation  points,  semicolons, 

and  colons  in  the   following:  (Deduct   two   per  cent   for   each   error.) 

1  No  iron  chain,  nor  outward  force  of  any  kind,  could  ever  compel  the  soul  of  man  to 

believe  or  disbelieve  it  is  his  own  indefeasible  right,  that  judgment  of  his  he  will 
reign  and  believe  by  the  grace  of  God  alone — Carlyle 

2  Wise  men  say  that  there  are  three  sorts  of  persons  who  are  wholly  deprived  of  judg- 

ment— they  who  are  ambitious  of  preferment  in  the  courts  of  princes  they  who 
make  use  of  poison  to  show  their  skill  in  curing  it  and  they  who  intrust  women 
with  their  secrets 

3  Wherever  literature  consoles  sorrow  or  assuages  pain  wherever  it  brings  gladness  to 

the  eyes  which  fail  with  wakefulness  and  tears,  and  ache  for  the  dark  house  and 
the  long  sleep, — there  is  exhibited  in  its  noblest  form  the  immortal  influence  of 
Athens — Macaulay 

4  He  said  that  in  his  whole  life  he  most  repented  of  three  things  one  was  that  he  had 

trusted  a  secret  to  a  wom:\n  another,  that  he  went  by  water  when  he  might  have 
gone  by  land  the  third,  that  he  remained  one  whole  day  without  doing  any  busi- 
ness of  moment — Plutarch 

5  The  poorest  man  may  in  his  cottage  bid  defiance  to  all  the  force  of  the  crown  It  may 

be  frail  its  roof  may  shake  the  wind  may  blow  through  it  the  storms  may  enter 
the  rain  may  enter, — but  the  king  of  England  cannot  enter — Pitt 

6  A  man  ought  to  read  just  as  inclination  leads  him  for  what  he  reads  as  a  task  will  do 

him  little  good — Johnson 

7  Sherry  is  dull,  naturally  dull  but  it  must  have  taken  him  a  great  deal  of  pains  to 

become  what  we  now  see  him — Johnson 

8  I  am  a  great  friend  to  public  amusements  for  they  keep  people  from  vice — Johnson 

9  A  cow  is  a  very  good  animal  in  the  field  but  we  turn  her  out  of  the  garden — Johnson 

10  Mr  Kremlin  was  distinguished  for  ignorance  for  he  had  only  one  idea,  and  that  was 

wrong — Disraeli 

11  Knowledge  is  of  two  kinds  we  know  a  subject  ourselves,  or  we  know  where  we  can 

find  information  upon  it — Johnson 

12  After  dinner,  he  went  to  the  office  later,  to  the  theater 

13  My  persistent,  though  deferential  inquiries  elicited  from  her,  in  a  wavering  voice, 

that  she  had  not  previously  possessed  the  governor's  acquaintance  that  her 
entreaties  had  evoked  only  the  governor's  wrathful  orders  to  depart  from  the 
province  on  pain  of  sharing  her  father's  fate  and  that  La  Chatre  had  refused  to 
allow  her  even  to  see  her  father  in  his  dungeon  in  the  Chateau  of  Fleurier 

14  All  of  the  executive  committee  were  there  Mr  James  of  Philadelphia,  Mr  Williams 

of  Newark,  and  Mr  Wright  of  Trenton 

15  Discontent  is  the  want  of  self-reliance  it  is  infirmity  of  will — Emerson 

16  I  was  born  an  American  I  will  live  an  American  I  shall  die  an  American — Webster 

[over] 


24  .   APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

17  When  a  man  is  tired  of  London,  he  is  tired  of  life  for  there  is  in  London  all  that  life 

can  afford — Johnson 

18  Talent  is  that  which  is  in  a  man's  power  genius  is  that  in  whose  power  a  man  is — Lowell 

19  There  is  no  mistake  there  has  been  no  mistake  and  there  shall  be  no  mistake — Welling- 

ton 

20  Sentimentally,  I  am  disposed  to  harmony  but  organically,  I  am  incapable  of  a  tune — 

Lamb 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  25 

LESSON   IV 


THE  COMMA 

1.  Elements  in  a  Series 

The  comma  should  take  the  place  of  the  conjunction  between  words  or 
phrases  used  in  the  same  construction  ;  as, 

1.  It  is  all  good  land,  fenced  with  stone,  rails,  hedge,  and  wire. 

2.  It  is  all  good  land,  fenced  with  stone,  rails,  hedge  and  wire. 

3.  It  is  all  good  land  fenced  with  rails,  hedge,  post  and  wire. 

4.  It  is  all  good  land,  fenced  with  hedge,  and  post  and  wire. 

5.  Sink  or  swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish,  I  give  my  hand  and  my  heart  to  this 

vote. — Webster. 

6.  With  malice  towards  none,  with  charity  for  all,  with  firmness  in  the  right  as  God 

gives  us  to  see  the  right. — Lincoln. 

Observation. — Careful  writers  use  the  comma  before  the  conjunction,  unless  the  last 
two  members  of  the  series  have  only  the  force  of  any  one  of  the  other  members. 

Observation. — When  adjectives  that  precede  the  object  modify  other  words  as  well  as 
the  object,  commas  should  not  be  used;  as. 

That  beautiful  young-  lady  is  the  president's  daughter.  In  this  example 
"young"  modifies  "lady,"  "beautiful"  modifies  "young  lady,"  and  "that"  modifies 
"beautiful  young  lady." 

2.  'Intermediate  Expressions 

Intermediate,  explanatory,  or  parenthetical  expressions  should  usually  be 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  sentence  by  commas ;  as, 

1.  We  take  pleasure  in  sending  you  to-day,  by  your  order,  inclosed  invoice  of  goods. 

2.  The  goods,  which  were  extremely  unsatisfactory,  were  returned. 

3.  I  had,  on  the  contrarj^  decided  to  employ  him. 

4.  Your  attention  is  called  to  a  claim  of  $100.00,  besides  interest,  against  you,  in 

favor  of  John  A.  Carter,  placed  with  me  for  collection. 

5.  J.  W.  Mathers,  being  duly  sworn  and  examined,  testified  as  follows :  etc. 

6.  Free  trade,  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  which  a  government  can  confer  on  a 

people,  is  in  almost  every  country  unpopular. — Macaulay. 

S.     Introductory  Expressions 

A  comma  is  usually  placed  after  words  or  expressions  used  by  way  of 
introduction ;  as, 

1.  Answering  your  letter  of  the  4th  inst.,  the  terms  you  quote  are  satisfactory. 

2.  Please  Take  Notice,  that  H.  C.  Bell  of  Marshall,  111.,  is  the  attorney  for  the 

defendant  in  this  action. 

3.  In  response  to  your  inquiry  in  regard  to  the  action  taken  under  the  clause  of  the 

fortifications  act  of  March  1,  1901,  regarding  the  Isham  high-explosive  shell, 
I  have  to  say,  etc. 

4.  Sir,  I  would  rather  be  right  than  be  president. — Clay. 


26  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

4.  Elements  Out  of  Their  Natural  Order 

A  word,  phrase,  or  clause  that  occupies  any  other  than  its  natural  place  in 
a  sentence  is  out  of  its  natural  order  and  should  be  separated  from  the  rest  of 
the  sentence  by  a  comma  ;  as, 

1.  If  your  order  reaches  us  by  to-morrow,  the  15th  inst.,  we  can  mail  you  the  goods 

without  delay. 

2.  As  evidence  of  our  low  prices  and  square  dealing,  we  submit  to  you  the  following 

facts  and  figures,  etc. 

3.  When  a  man  assumes  a  public  trust,  he  should  consider  himself  as  public  property. 

— Jefferson. 

4.  Where  law  ends,  tyranny  begins. — Pitt. 

5.  Contrasted  Expressions 

Contrasted  expressions  should  be  separated  from  each  other  by  a  comma ; 

1.  It  is  a  condition  which  confronts  us,  not  a  theory. 

2.  You  may  go,  I  shall  remain  here. 

3.  It  appears  to  me  that  in  some  of  these  published  claims  they  have  misrepresented, 

or  that  they  are  fools  in  not  accepting  a  present  of  one  hundred  dollars. 

6.  Short  Quotations 

The  comma  is  used  after  informal  introductions  to  short  quotations ;    as, 

1.  W^e  sent  you  telegram,  "Buy  1000  bu.  No.  2  wheat,"  which  we  now  confirm.  ^ 

2.  The  position   of  the  defendant   is   simply,   "I   admit  everything  that   is   in   the 

complaint." 

3.  He   heard   a   voice   from   the   distance   hallooing,    "Rip   Van   Winkle,    Rip   Van 

Winkle." — Irving. 

7.  Appositive  Terms 

Expressions  in  apposition  should  be  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  sentence 

by  commas ;  as, 

1.  Your  orator,   Hiram  Harper,  respectfully  shows  unto  your  Honor  that   on  or 

about,  etc. 

2.  I,  William  A.  Cummings,  to  whom  it  was  referred  by  an  order  of  this  Court  to 

hear,  etc. 

3.  We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  are  lovers  of  republicanism. 
Observation.— This  rule  is  really  covered  by  the  rule  for  intermediate  and  explanatory 

expressions. 

8.  Correlative  Clauses 

The  comma  should  separate  two  correlative  clauses  when  the  conjunction 

is  omitted ;  as, 

1.  The  sooner  you  get  to  work  on  the  building,  the  sooner  you  will  get  your  money. 

2.  The  deeper  the  well,  the  cooler  the  water. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  27 

9.  Restrictive  and  Non-Restrictive  Clauses 

A  comma  should  be  used  before  an  explanatory  clause,  or  before  one  that 
presents  an  additional  thought ;  when,  however,  the  clause  is  restrictive  in  sense 
the  comma  should  not  be  used ;   as, 

1.  All  orders  that  reach  us  before  the  first  of  the  month  will  be  filled  immediately. 

2.  We  find  that  Alexander  Boss,  who  is  under  bond  by  you,  has  failed  to  account  for 

a  large  sum  of  money  received  by  him  and  belonging  to  us. 

3.  I  desire  to  get  a  position  where  there  is  a  good  opportunity  for  advancement. 

4.  I  have  had  four  years'  experience  in  the  general  office  of  the  Burlington  railroad, 

where  I  handled  a  large  amount  of  correspondence. 

5.  A  man  that  is  good  for  making  excuses  is  good  for  nothing  else. 

6.  The  copy  of  Longfellow's  poems,  which  I  bought  several  years  ago,  has  not  yet 

been  read. 
Observation. — Where  there  are  several  antecedents,  however,  before  the  restrictive 
relative  clause,  or  where  other  words  intervene  between  the  antecedent  and  the  clause,  the 
comma  should  be  used ;    as, 

1.     I  have  apples,  peaches,  and  plums,  that  are  superior  to  any  to  be  found  on  the 
market. 
2.     No  one  could  have  been  chosen,  that  would  have  been  more  suitable. 

10.  Omissions 

Commas  should  be  used  to  indicate  important  omissions ;   as, 

1.  Chicago,  111.,  May  18,  1909. 

2.  Enclosed  find  check  for  $100,  amount  of  our  account  in  full. 

3.  We  will  sell  you  these  goods  at  9;^^  cents,  one  per  cent  oflf,  thirty  days. 

4.  After  dinner,  he  went  to  the  office;  later,  to  the  theater. 

11.  Compound  Sentences 

The  members  of  short  compound  sentences,  when  closely  connected  in 
thought,  are  often  separated  by  commas  if  the  conjunction  is  omitted.  Where 
the  conjunction  is  used  the  comma  is  usually  not  necessary,  except  in  very  long 
sentences  or  where  the  members  are  contrasted ;   as, 

1.  The  wheat  market  is  on  the  decline  to-day  and  we  look  for  still  lower  prices 

to-morrow. 

2.  It  is  not  only  good,  it  is  the  very  best. 

3.  Yes,  it  is  true,  I  shall  go. 

4.  Perhaps  it  is  just  as  well  that  the  public  should  be  shut  off  from  a  complete 

understanding  of  the  points  at  issue,  and  a  standing  settlement  by  the  commis- 
sion ought  to  prove  more  nearly  final  than  a  compromise  between  the  dis- 
putants. 

12.  Subject  and  Predicate 

The  subject  is  often  separated  from  the  predicate  by  a  comma:   as, 

1.  Whatever  he  says,  goes. 

2.  The  air,  the  earth,  the  water,  teem  with  life. 

3.  The  country  that  Hudson  had  discovered,  possessed  a  good  harbor. 


28  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

13.  Ambiguity 

The  comma  is  often  used  to  prevent  ambiguity;  as, 

1.  We  enclose  your  letter  of  Dec.  7,  which  was  missent. 

2.  We  quote  you  $5.00  per  ton  for  j-our  wood,  subject  to  your  immediate  acceptance 

by  wire. 

3.  The  prisoner,  said  the  witness,  was  a  convicted  thief. 

14.  Figures 

With  the  exception  of  dates,  figures  should  be  separated  by  commas  into 
periods  of  three  orders  each;   as, 

1.  $3,345. 

2.  645,346,252. 

15.  General  Rule 

Use  a  comma  to  indicate  a  sHght  interruption  in  the  grammatical  construc- 
tion of  a  sentence,  where  no  other  mark  is  applicable ;   as, 

1.  The  steamer  went  aground  during  a  dense  fog,  the  tide  having  been  on  the  ebb 

for  about  half  an  hour. 

2.  It  was  expected  that  the  boat  would  not  withstand  the  severe  strain  caused  by  the 

receding  tide,  and  would  go  to  pieces. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION                          29 
^'Vamc Grade 

EXERCISE  6 


Insert  the  commas  in  the  following: 

(Deduct   two    per  cent   for   each   error.) 

1.  The  death  roll  from  typhoid  at  Ithaca  continues  to  lengthen  and  the  people  there  begin 

to  realize  the  fact  that  an  epidemic  of  this  character  cannot  be  wiped  out  in  a  week 
or  a  month. 

2.  Wherefore  the  plaintiff  demands  judgment  for  $1000.00. 

3.  Referring  to  your  favor  we  hand  you  herewith  bill  for  rent  on  your  house  and  lot 

$40.00. 

4.  In  reply  to  j^ours  of  recent  date  would  say  that  we  cannot  accept  your  terms. 

5.  I  have  no  doubt  therefore  that  you  can  secure  his  order. 

6.  The  verdict  as  a  matter  of  course  was  that  he  was  guilty. 

7.  After  having  spent  3-ears  in  accumulating  it  his  fortune  was  gone  in  a  day. 

8.  We  shall  be  pleased  to  have  your  quotations  on  wheat  from  time  to  time  as  may  suit 

your  convenience  and  perhaps  may  be  able  to  do  some  business  with  j'ou. 

9.  If  you  make  this  statement  to  all  who  sign  the  contracts  will  not  be  worth  much. 

10.  We  have  just  received  an  order  for  ten  chair  cars  four  cafe  cars  and  two  postal  and 

baggage  cars. 

11.  If  you  feel  like  taking  the  note  and  giving  me  credit  all  right;  if  not  return  it  to  me 

and  oblige  Yours  truly 

12.  I  went  with  him  to  Chicago  where  I  left  him. 

13.  He  left  the  City  of  New  York  where  he  was  doing  well. 

14.  Mr.  Haws  the  junior  member  of  our  firm  spent  several  months  in  Europe  last  fall. 

15.  Mr.  C.  L.  Wilson  our  traveling  salesman  will  be  in  j^our  city  on  Friday  the  10th  inst. 

16.  We  wired  you  yesterday  "Sold  100  shares  Erie"  and  now  confirm  same. 

17.  It  is  simply  my  desire  not  my  command  that  this  shall  be  done. 

18.  We  are  sorry  there  has  been  any  misunderstanding  in  the  matter  and  hope  that  you 

will  be  able  to  see  your  way  out  of  it  without  any  loss. 

19.  We  are  anxious  to  accommodate  ]\Ir.  Cook  if  it  can  be  done  consistently  with  your 

rules  under  the  present  condition  of  affairs. 

20.  The  relation  of  the  Transvaal  cars  to  which  reference  is  made  may  be  explained  etc. 

21.  Your  present  favor  inclosing  complaint  prepared  by  you  in  your  case  at  Tallahassee 

has  been  received. 

22.  For  your  own  and  Dr.  Wright's  information  concerning  the  subsequent  course  after 

the  operation  at  which  you  assisted  I  am  inclosing  herewith  a  carbon  copy  of  Miss 
Eleanor  Shaw's  case  record  the  record  being  more  elaborate  than  usual  because 
of  the  complex  and  multiple  lesions  which  required  to  be  remedied  to  obtain  the 
good  result  now  secured. 

23.  We  of  course  can  furnish  you  any  quantity  you  wish — say  200  sets— at  the  price  he 

named  f.  o.  b.  cars  here. 

[over] 


30  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

24.  Gentlemen : 

We  are  in  receipt  of  credit  memorandum  from  South  Omaha  for  $1.00  allowance 
which  they  are  making  your  branch  for  account  of  F.  M.  Beardsley  and  which 
amount  we  are  placing  to  your  credit  on  the  supposition  that  you  desire  the  amount 
for  Mr.  Beardsley. 

25.  After  carefully  considering  your  proposition  of  the  1st  we  have  come  to  the  conclu- 

sion that  we  cannot  accept  your  terms. 

26.  Coal  iron  steel  and  oil  have  increased  in  value. 

27.  We  can  furnish  you  wool  blankets  in  white  black  and  white  black  and  red  scarlet  grey 

cardinal  and  fancy  plaid. 

28.  The  plaintiff  under  such  circumstances  would  not  be  bound  to  appear  at  this  time. 

29.  The  Lobe-Cutter  Lumber  Company  plaintiff  in  the  above  entitled  action  by  Carter  and 

Jones  its  attorneys  for  complaint  against  the  above-named  defendants  alleges :  etc. 

30.  J.  M.  Scott  being  duly  sworn  says  that  he  is  the  attorney  for  the  plaintiff  in  this 

action. 

31.  During  the  first  year  of  our  business  we  have  enjoyed  a  good  trade. 

32.  We  have  taken  this  matter  up  with  Mr.  Story  who  writes  us  that  he  will  wait  until 

you  receive  the  steel  from  Scotland. 

33.  This  insurance  was  written  as  you  know  upon  the  application  of  Mr.  John  Smith  who 

is  at  present  employed  in  our  New  York  office. 

34.  For  over  two  years-the  two  that  were  left  were  not  used  and  then  in  1906  they  were 

sold. 


■APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  31 


Name Grade 

EXERCISE  7 

Insert  the  commas  in  the  following: 

(Deduct  two  per  cent  for  each  error.) 

1.  Garfield  the  second  martyred  president  was  born  in  Ohio. 

2.  Puritanism  believing  itself  quick  with  the  seed  of  religious  liberty  laid  without  know- 

ing it  the  egg  of  democracy. — Lowell. 

3.  If  you  do  only  cheap  things  you  will  be  a  cheap  man. 

4.  In  the  acquirement  of  shorthand  skill  a  good  style  of  longhand  is  a  great  advantage. 

5.  As  an  object  of  primary  importance  promote  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge. 

6.  In  fact  he  declared  it  was  of  no  use  to  work  on  his  farm. 

7.  In  my  judgment  the  tariff  on  anthracite  coal  should  be  removed  and  anthracite  put 

actually  where  it  now  is  nominally  on  the  free  list. 

8.  On  entering  the  Amphitheatre  new  objects  of  wonder  presented  themselves. 

9.  The  public  library  is  of  immense  value  to  all  our  pupils  especially  to  the  poor  child 

that  can  attend  school  but  a  few  years. 

10.  To  the  pure  all  things  are  pure. 

11.  To  the  unknown  men  that  lost  their  lives  in  the  Spanish-American  War  many  monu- 

ments have  been  dedicated. 

12.  "Sweet  smiling  village  loveliest  of  the  lawn. 

Thy  sports  are  fled  and  all  thy  charms  withdrawn." 

13.  Young  man  young  man  what  are  you  learning  to  do  well? 

14.  I  too  regret  that  the  mistake  occurred. 

15.  Roughly  speaking  there  are  three  theories  of  government  which  may  be  respectively 

designated  as  paternalism  individualism  and  fraternalism. 

16.  The  true  strong  and  sound  mind  is  the  mind  that  can  embrace  equally  great  things 

and  small. — Johnson. 

17.  We  mutually  pledge  to  each  other  our  lives  our  fortunes  and  our  most  sacred  honor. 

— Jefferson. 

18.  As  Caesar  was  going  to  the  senate  house  he  saluted  the  seer  saying  "Well  the  Ides  of 

March  have  come."    But  the  seer  mildly  replied  "Yes  they  are  come  but  they  are 
not  yet  gone." 

20.  John  there  is  some  one  at  the  door. 

21.  Principle  is  ever  my  motto  not  expediency. — Disraeli. 

22.  It  is  true  and  there  is  no  help  for  it. 

23.  It  is  I  not  he. 

24.  It  is  right  not  wrong. 

25.  Be  temperate  in  youth  or  you  will  have  to  abstain  in  old  age. 

26.  Uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a  crown. 

27.  The  exploits  of  Mercury  himself  the  god  of  cunning  may  be   easily  imagined  to 

surpass  everything  achieved  by  profaner  hands. 

28.  Homer  the  greatest  poet  of  antiquity  is  said  to  have  been  blind. 

29.  Presents  I  often  say  endear  absents. — Lamb. 

[over] 


32  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION- 

30.  For  thy  sake  tobacco  I  would  do  anything  but  die. — Lavib. 

31.  His  children  too  were  as  ragged  and  wild  as  if  they  belonged  to  nobody. 

32.  Glass  bends  easily  when  it  is  hot. 

33.  The  lever  that  moves  the  world  of  mind  is  emphatically  the  printing  press. 

34.  Columbus  was  sent  to  the  University  of  Padua  where  he  acquired  such  knowledge  as 

was  then  taught. 

35.  Clever  men  are  good  but  they  are  not  the  best. 

36.  His  cow  would  either  go  astray  or  she  would  get  among  the  cabbages. 

37.  That  a  peculiar  state  of  the  mere  particles  of  the  brain  should  be  followed  by  a 

change  of  the  state  of  the  sentient  mind  is  truly  wonderful. 

38.  Whatever  is  is  right. 

39.  The  college  the  clergy  the  lawyers  were  all  against  me. 

40.  Morning  is  the  best  time  ta  study  my  son. 

41.  France  and  Germany  together  have  a  population   of   100000000  in   round  numbers 

against  our  probable  85000000  and  State  Forests  of  14500000  acres  against  our 
160000000  acres  of  National  Forests ;  but  France  and  Germany  spend  on  their 
forests  $11000000  a  year  and  get  from  them  in  net  returns  $30000000  a  year  while 
the  United  States  spent  on  the  National  Forests  last  year  $1400000  and  secured  a 
net  return  of  less  than  $130000. 

42.  His  wife  kept  continually  dinning  in  his  ears  about  his  idleness  his  carelessness  and 

the  ruin  he  was  bringing  on  his  family. — Irving. 

43.  Reading  maketh  a  full  man ;  conference  a  ready  man ;  writing  an  exact  man. 

44.  Histories  make  wise  men ;  poets  witty ;  the  mathematics  subtle ;  natural  philosophy 

deep ;    moral  grave ;    logic  and  rhetoric  able  to  contend. — Bacon. 

45.  Whoever  operates  a  motor  cycle  or  automobile  upon  any  highway  or  private  way  laid 

out  under  authority  of  the  law  recklessly  or  while  under  the  influence  of  intoxi- 
cants shall  be  punished  etc. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  33 

LESSON  V 


THE  DASH 

1.  Change  in  the  Construction  or  the  Sentiment 

The  dash  is  used  to  indicate  an  unexpected  break  in  the  thought  or  gram- 
matical construction,  or  to  show  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the  speaker.  If  this 
broken  part  of  the  sentence  is  followed  by  the  taking  up  of  the  thought  pre- 
ceding the  interruption,  then  a  dash  is  used  to  indicate  its  completion  as  well 
as  its  beginning ;  as, 

1.  The  owner  of  the  lot  became  tired  of  it — wanted  to  use  his  money  on  the  Board 

of  Trade — it  was  his  own  proposition  that  he  sell  it  at  this  low  price. 

2.  Stenographers  are  not  the  only  persons  who  are  not  quite  so  careful — no,  perhaps 

it  would  be  better  to  say  thoughtful — as  they  should  be. 

3.  Now,  taking  up  his  criticism — but  why  should  we  pay  any  attention  to  it  ? 

4.  He  had  no  malice  in  his  heart — no  rufifles  on  his  shirt. 

2.  Parenthetical  and  Explanatory  Expressions 

The  dash  is  often  used  to  separate  parenthetical  expressions  from  the  rest 
of  the  sentence  where  the  expression  is  too  much  detached  to  require  commas, 
and  yet  too  closely  related  to  be  inclosed  in  parentheses.  The  dash  is  also  used 
before  and  after  words  or  expressions  added  by  way  of  explanation,  or  for  the 
sake  of  emphasis ;  as, 

1.  We  can  furnish  you  any  quantity  you  wish — say  200  sets — at  the  price  you  name. 

2.  We  hand  you  application  covering  your  boiler  insurance — $30,000,  premium  $200 — 

for  a  period  of  three  years. 

3.  We  shall  make  you  a  price  on  these  goods  in  a  few  weeks — the  first  of  April  at 

the  latest. 

4.  The  only  work  that  we  have  published  is  that  issued  for  our  correspondence  with 

our  clients — pamphlets  relative  to  our  securities. 

5.  It  is  a  story  of  New  England  life  that  he  [Whittier]  tells  in  "Snow-Bound" — the 

story,  in  fact,  of  his  boyhood  days. 

6.  To  do  things  so  profoundly  well,  never  grows  easy — grows  always  more  difficult. 

7.  Those  that  hated  him  most  heartily — and  no  man  was  hated  more  heartily — 

admitted  that  he  was  an  intelHgent  man. 

3.  After  a  Series  of  Clauses. 

The  dash  is  used  after  a  series  of  expressions  that  are  separated  by  semi- 
colons and  have  a  common  dependence  upon  a  final  clause ;   as, 

1.  If  we  think  of  glory  in  the  field ;  of  wisdom  in  the  cabinet ;  of  the  purest  patriot- 
ism ;  of  morals  without  a  stain — the  august  figure  of  Washington  presents 
itself  as  the  personification  of  all  these  ideas. 


34  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

4.  Subheads  and  Extracts 

The  dash  is  used  after  subheads  and  extracts  from  the  works  of  other 
authors ;  as, 

1.  TERMS. — Freight  net;  balance  two  per  cent  cash  ten  days;  sixty  days  net. 

2.  A  good  many  good  things  are  lost  by  not  asking  for  them. — McKinley. 

5.  Omission  of  Figures  and  Letters 

The  dash  is  used  to  indicate  the  omission  of  figures  or  letters ;  as, 

1.  Study  pages  175—80. 

2.  The  years  1896—99. 

3.  Meeting  of  the  Eastern  Commercial  Teachers'  Association,  April  9 — 11,   1909. 

(This  means  April  9,  10,  and  11.) 

4.  We  can  make  you  a  price  of  9>4 — 1 — 30.     {9]/-,  one  per  cent  off,  thirty  days.) 

5.  Mrs.  B ,  on  A street. 

Note. — Writers  that  do  not  clearly  know  what  point  is  needed  always  make  the  dash 
serve  as  its  acceptable  equivalent.  It  has  been  so  much  overworked  that  one  author  has 
called  for  its  abolition. — De  Vinne. 


THE   PARENTHESIS 

1.  Parenthetical  Expressions 

Parenthetical  expressions  that  have  no  direct  bearing  upon  the  meaning  of 
the  sentence  should  be  inclosed  in  parentheses ;  as, 

1.    We  are  pleased  to  quote  you  on  three  Roller  King  Mills  (see  page  eight,  catalog 

sent  you). 
•2.    I  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  Mr.  Gray's  letter  (copy  of  letter  inclosed),  in 

which  he  says  that  he  cannot  accept  our  proposition. 

3.  He  is  likely  (apt)  to  take  offense. 

4.  An  amateur  (literally,  a  lover)  is  one  who  pursues  an  art,  science,  or  a  game  for 

the  love  of  it,  not  for  a  livelihood. 

5.  Christopher  Marlowe    (1564—1593)    may  be  considered  as  the  founder  of  this 

poetic  and  romantic  drama. 

2.  Figures 

When  an  amount  expressed  in  words  is  followed  by  an  expression  of  the 
same  amount  in  figures,  the  figures  should  be  inclosed  in  parentheses ;  as, 

1.  One  hundred  dollars  ($100). 

2.  We  have  entered  your  order  for  twenty-five  hundred  (2500)  kegs  of  nails. 
Observation.— Wherever   possible    the    comma    or    the    dash    is    preferable    to    the 

parenthesis  in  business  correspondence. 

Note. — Many  people  can  ride  on  horseback  who  find  it  hard  to  get  on  and  off  without 
assistance.  One  has  to  dismount  from  an  idea,  and  get  into  the  saddle  again,  at  every 
parenthesis. — Holmes. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  35 

BRACKETS 
Editor's  Notes 

The  brackets  inclose  an  explanation  made  by  some  other  than  the  speaker 
or  author ;  as, 

1.  Pupils  in  public  and  private  schools,  17,298,230  [it  seems  to  the  editor  that  this 

figure  must  be  too  high],  an  increase  of  278,520  over  the  previous  year. 

2.  I  went  into  the  army  before  I   should  have  gone — before  I  knew  I  was  in. 

[Laughter.] 

3.  While  woman  may  never  be  elected  to  Congress    she  will  continue  to  be  the 

"Speaker  of  the  House."    [Applause.] 

4.  In  matters  of  science  he  [Jefferson]  was  rather  a  dabbler  than  a  philosopher. 
Note. — As  the  brackets  are  not   on  the  keyboard  of   the  ordinary  typewriter,  the 

stenographer  must  use  the  parentheses  instead.     This  liberty  is  allowable  only  in  type- 
written work. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


Name Grade . 


EXERCISE  8 


Insert  all  necessary  punctuation  marks  in  the  following  sentences : 

(Deduct   two   per  cent   for  each   error.) 

1.  This  property  is  situated  in  lot  four  4,  block  two  2,  in  Harper's  Addition. 

2.  We  insist  on  our  order  No.  369  your  shop  No.  1744  being  shipped  at  once. 

3.  For  Sale  a  lot  50x145,  clear,  on  Sheridan  drive  Lake  Shore  drive,  east  front,  150  feet 

north  of  Barry  avenue. 

4.  While  it  is  for  your  own  interest  that  we  mention  these  things  and  we  could  not  be 

misunderstood  under  any  circumstances  still  you  realize  that  our  success  and  your 
work  are  interdependent. 

5.  There  were  mingled  feelings  of  joy  and  sorrow  at  leaving  the  old  home  place  at 

Haverhill  joy  because  he  did  not  like  to  farm  and  sorrow  because  in  it  his  own 
quiet  childhood  had  been  passed. 

6.  He  became  known  far  and  wide  as  an  abolitionist  a  man  strongly  opposed  to  slavery. 

7.  Apologies  a  very  desperate  habit  one  that  is  rarely  cured. — Holmes. 

8.  The  most  tangible  of  all  visible  mysteries  fire. — Hunt. 

9.  There  is  nothing  so  powerful  as  truth  and  often  nothing  so  strange. — Webster. 

10.  I  notice  the  leader  of  the  majority,  the  gentleman  from  New  York,  has  endeavored 

to  start  a  laugh,  but  it  has  been  smothered  in  its  very  incipiency.  Laughter  and 
applause. 

11.  The  office  boy  gets  a  schooling  that  is  perhaps  more  valuable  than  any  other  in  a 

business  career  a  schooling  in  alertness  and  attention  to  small  details. 

12.  Papa,  potatoes,  poultry,  prunes,  and  prism,  all  very  good  words  for  the  lips   especially 

prunes  and  prism. — Dickens. 

13.  The  maker  of  an  accommodation  bill  or  note  one  for  which  he  has  received  no  con- 

sideration, having  lent  his  name  or  credit  for  the  accommodation  of  the  holder 
is  not  bound  to  the  person  accommodated,  but  is  bound  to  all  other  parties  pre- 
cisely as  if  there  was  a  good  consideration. 

14.  I  would  have  nobody  control  me ;   I  would  be  absolute  and  who  but  I    Now,  he  that 

is  absolute  can  do  what  he  likes  he  that  can  do  what  he  likes  can  take  his  pleasure 
he  that  can  take  his  pleasure  can  be  content  and  he  that  can  be  content  has  no 
more  to  desire.  So  the  matter's  over  and  come  what  will  come,  I  am  satisfied. — 
Cervantes. 

15.  H  the  history  of  England  be  ever  written  by  one  who  has  the  knowledge  and  the 

courage  and  both  qualities  are  equally  requisite  for  the  undertaking  the  world 
will  be  more  astonished  than  when  reading  Roman  annals  by  Niebuhr. — Disraeli. 

16.  A  blessed  companion  is  a  book  a  book  that  fitly  chosen  is  a  lifelong  {r'ltnd.—Jerrold. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  39 

LESSON  VI 


QUOTATION   MARKS 

1.  Exact  Words  of  Speaker  or  Writer 

Inclose  within  quotation  marks  the  exact  words  of  a  speaker  or  writer ;  as, 

1.  We  have  wired  you  this  a.  m.  thus :    "Wire  mill  to  rush  Omaha  paper  immedi- 

ately;  answer  if  ready,"  and  now  confirm  same. 

2.  "Primary  market  reports  and  business  news"  is  our  motto. 

3.  Congreve  said,  "There  is  a  great  deal  in  the  first  impression." 

2.  Quotations  Consisting  of  More  Than  One  Paragraph 

When  a  quotation  consists  of  more  than  one  paragraph,  the  quotation 
marks  should  be  placed  at  the  beginning  of  each  paragraph  and  at  the  end  of 
the  last  one. 

3.  Name  of  Author  after  Quotation 

When  the  name  of  the  author  is  given  after  a  quotation,  the  quotation 
marks  are  not  necessary. 

4.  Free  Use  of  Quotation  Marks 

It  is  a  reflection  upon  the  reader's  knowledge  of  literature  to  inclose  within 
quotation  marks  every  well-known  quotation. 

5.  Titles  of  Books,  Articles,  and  Plays 

Titles  of  books,  articles  and  plays  should  be  inclosed  within  quotation 
marks.  It  is  not*  necessary  to  inclose  names  of  the  leading  periodicals  and 
newspapers ;   as, 

1.  I  am  sending  you  a  copy  of  Lew  Wallace's  "Ben  Hur." 

2.  We  are   sending  you   a  circular  of   "An   Index  to  Recitations,   Readings,   and 

Dialogues,"  which  we  hope  you  will  read  carefully. 

3.  We  went  last  night  to  see  "Hamlet." 

6.  Quotation  within  a  Quotation 

When  one  quotation  occurs  within  another,  indicate  the  second  one  by 
single  quotation  marks  ;   as, 

1.  The  following  is  a  quotation  from  the  works  of  Edwin  Hay:   "The  last  speech  of 

the  fallen  leader  ended  with  these  words :  'Ye  who  put  your  trust  in  princes, 
instead  of  swearing  allegiance  to  the  reigning  twin  should  pause  awhile  and 
look  ahead.' " 

2.  "Yes,"  he  said,  "I  know  it's  true  that  'Chickens  come  home  to  roost.' " 

7.  Special  Words,  Objectionable  Words,  Slang 

When  special  attention  is  invited  to  any  word,  it  should  be  inclosed  within 
quotation  marks ;  as, 

1.    The  words  "sold  by"  are  in  these  proofs. 


40  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

2.  His  fondness  for  the  big  or  unusual  words  and  phrases  "empyrean,"  "nadir," 

"capriccio,"  "cui  bono,"  "coup  d'etat,"  shows  that  he  has  been  to  a  feast  of 
languages  and  stolen  the  scraps. 

3.  You  can  depend  on  our  being  "strictly  in  it." 

4.  We  are  "up  against"  a  "stiff"  proposition. 

Observation.— Single  quotation  marks  might  be  used  in  the  foregoing  illustration, 
but  it  is  preferable  to  limit  the  use  of  single  marks  to  the  quotation  within  a  quotation. 

8.  Words  Used  Aside  from  Their  Ordinary  Meaning 

A  word  or  expression  used  aside  from  its  ordinary  meaning  should  be 
inclosed  within  quotation  marks ;   as, 

1.  This  young  man  will  not  give  up  his  efforts  for  success  until  he  has  come  "under 

the  wire." 

2.  This  house  is  strictly  "on  the  square." 

3.  The  stenographer  is  sometimes  allowed  to  "edit"  what  he  transcribes. 

4.  I  passed  over  to  the  "silent  majority"— I  got  married. 

5.  The  novels  he  wrote  were  "novel"  indeed. 

6.  This  particular  man  had  a  fondness  for  the  "home  plate." 

9.  Technical  Words  and  Trade  Names 

Technical  words  and  trade  names  are  frequently  inclosed  within  quotation 

marks ;  as, 

1.  We  have  about  40,000  lbs.  of  "Oriental  Package"  New  Mexico  wool  on  hand. 

2.  We  have  some  "St.  Charles  Evaporated  Cream"  in  stock. 

3.  A  trader  "hedges"  to  avert  a  loss. 

4.  Though  "short"  trading  is  sometimes  called  "fictitious,"  it  is  by  no  means  different 

from  the  practices  that  prevail  in  every  business. 

10.  Names  of  Vessels 

It  is  not  necessary  to  quote  the  names  of  vessels,  although  it  is  an  old 
custom. 

11.  Quotation  Marks  with  Other  Marks 

Compositors  usually  place  the  period,  comma,  and  semicolon  before  the 
quotation  marks  as  they  appear  isolated  when  they  are  placed  after  them,  espe- 
cially in  the  case  of  the  period  at  the  end  of  the  sentence.  As  the  interrogation 
point  and  exclamation  point  are  full-size  characters,  they  should  be  placed 
before  the  quotation  marks  if  they  belong  to  the  quoted  part  only,  and  after,  if 
they  belong  to  the  entire  sentence ;  as, 

1.  He  said,  "I  shall  go." 

2.  "I  shall  go,"  said  the  speaker. 

3.  The  apostrophe  is  used  to  denote  the  intentional  elision  of  a  letter  or  letters ;  as, 

■  "doesn't"  for  "does  not;"  "aren't"  for  "are  not;"  etc. 

4.  He  asked,  "Where  are  you  going?" 

5.  Did  he  ask,  "Where  are  you  going"? 

6.  We  heard  the  cry,  "Fire  !  fire  !  fire!" 

7.  Hark !    I  hear  the  cry  "Fire"  ! 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  41 


Name Grade . 

EXERCISE  9 


Insert  all  necessary  punctuation  marks  in  the  following  sentences : 

(Deduct   two   per  cent  for  each  error.) 

1.  If  the  Bucket  Shop  makes  monej',  it  must  follow  that  the  customers  lose  money. 

2.  The  prices  v.-ere  given  to  the  telegraph  operator  to  be  put  on  the  ticker. 

3.  The  letter  was  returned  indorsed  Pays  no  attention  to  notices. 

4.  Referring  to  quotations,  when  boxing  is  covered  by  f.  o.  b.  we  say,  boxed  f.  o.  b., 

which  means  free  of  cartage. 

5.  Please  send  me  a  subscription  of  allotment  blank  by  early  mail. 

6.  This  magazine  will  be  about  the  size  of  the  Ladies'  Home  Journal. 

7.  One  barrel  was  marked  Port  and  the  other  was  marked  Claret. 

8.  The  cheese  was  marked  full  cream. 

9.  Please  hand  me  exhibit  A. 

10.  I  came  over  on  the  steamship  Narragansett. 

11.  This  house  is  known  as  the  Henry  House. 

12.  The  cylinder  on  our  Jack  of  all  Trades  is  cracked. 

13.  Thank  God  for  tea    What  would  the  world  do  without  tea  how  did  it  exist  I  am  glad 

I  was  not  born  before  tea.     Sydney  Smith. 

14.  The  world  looks  far  less  he  said  than  it  did  when  she  was  with  us. 

15.  It  is  his  sister  Elizabeth,  who  had  so  lately  left  him  whom  he  Whittier  names  so 

tenderly  as  our  youngest  and  dearest. 

16.  Sir 

Referring  to  the  following  provision  contained  in  the  Indian  Appropriation  Act, 
approved  i\Iarch  3,  1903  That  the  time  for  the  opening  of  the  unallotted  lands  to 
public  entry  on  said  Uintah  Reservation,  as  provided  by  the  act  of  May  27,  1902,  be 
and  the  same  is  hereby  extended  to  Oct.  1,  1904.  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  here- 
with a  copy  of  a  report  of  the  4th  inst.,  from  the  commissioner  of  the  General  Land 
Office. 

17.  Diogenes  lighted  a  candle  in  the  daytime,  and  went  about  saying,  I  am  looking  for  an 

honest  man. 

18.  The  words  shall  and  will  are  often  misused. 

19.  As  for  that,  said  Waldenshare,  sensible  men  are  all  of  the  same  religion.    Pray,  what 

is  that  inquired  the  Prince.     Sensible  men  never  tell.     Disraeli. 

20.  Why  may  not  a  goose  say  thus    All  the  parts  of  the  universe  I  have  an  interest  in 

the  earth  serves  me  to  walk  upon  the  sun  to  light  me  the  stars  have  their  influ- 
ence upon  me.  I  have  such  an  advantage  by  the  winds  and  such  by  the  waters 
there  is  nothing  that  yon  heavenly  roof  looks  upon  so  favorably  as  me.  I  am  the 
darling  of  Nature    Is  it  not  man  that  keeps  and  sers'es  me    Montaigne. 

21.  The  mother  said  to  the  daughter.  Daughter,  bid  thy  daughter  tell  her  daughter  that 

her  daughter's  daughter  hath  a  daughter.    HakeiviU. 

22.  Within  a  few  years  the  commerce  of  the  West  the  speaker  here  named  a  dozen  or 

more  States  will  equal  that  of  the  States  on  the  Atlantic. 

[over] 


42  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

23.  Yes,  I  think  I  will  no  I  wont  under  any  circumstances. 

24.  Though  the  mills  of  God  grind  slowly,  ^ 
Yet  they  grind  exceeding  small.     Longfellow. 

25.  Robert  Burns  1759  1796  occupies  a  singular  position  in  literature. 

26.  One  afternoon  I  had  been  there  a  week  we  saw  a  horseman  come  galloping  over 

the  hill. 

27.  Now,  he  said,  you  have  said  you  believe  that  Honesty  is  the  best  policy. 

28.  The  Sun  comments  very  favorably  upon  Richard  Mansfield's  production  of  the  play, 

Julius  Caesar. 

29.  Gentlemen,  I  know  senator  Baker  Lincoln  had  known  him  for  over  thirty  years  we 

were  boys  together  in  Illinois. 
3Q  *  DEALS   DEFENSE  A   BLOW 

The  hopes  of  the  defense  were  dealt  a  blow  when  Judge  Baker  interrupted  the 
argument  of  Attorney  Miller  with  this  question 

You  will  admit  that  the  president  of  a  national  bank  cannot  give  away  $50,000 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  bank,  without  its  being  a  misappropriation,  don't  you 

Yes,  replied  Mr.  Miller. 

But  you  would  say  that  the  banker  could  take  this  position  The  man  who  wanted 
the  money  could  go  to  the  banker  and  the  banker  say  to  him  Well,  I  can't  give  you 
that  amount  of  money,  but  if  you  come  in  with  a  blank  piece  of  paper  and  put 
somebody's  name  on  it  make  it  a  forged  note  and  bring  with  it  some  security,  I  will 
let  you  have  the  money 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION                          43 
Name Grade 

EXERCISE  10 


Punctuate  the  following  letter:  (Deduct  two   per  cent  for  each  error.) 

Chicago  111  May  19  1909 
Channing  &  Woods 

Omaha  Nebr 

Gentlemen 

For  30ur  information  we  beg  to  state  as  follows 

That  during  the  past  ten  years  there  has  not  been  one  year  in  which  our  country 
agents  have  not  given  the  farmers  a  higher  grade  on  hundreds  of  thousands  of  bushels  of 
grain  than  it  was  entitled  to  or  than  we  could  have  obtained  for  it  at  Duluth  West 
Superior  Chicago  New  York  or  elsewhere 

That  our  interests  demand  that  we  give  the  closest  attention  possible  to  the  matter 
of  grades  at  terminal  markets  and  that  it  is  our  opinion  as  country  shippers  that  the 
grading  at  Duluth  and  Minneapolis  is  uniformly  fair  and  just 

That  the  difference  between  the  grades  given  the  farmers  by  our  buyers  and  the 
grades  received  by  us  at  the  terminals  represents  a  loss  to  the  elevator  companies  of  the 
Northwest  aggregating  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 

That  the  statements  hereinbefore  made  are  contrary  to  the  prevailing  ideas  on  these 
questions  we  admit  but  we  can  produce  all  evidence  necessary  to  prove  the  correctness 
of  our  statements  and  that  for  this  purpose  we  cordially  invite  you  or  any  responsible 
person  whom  you  may  delegate  to  examine  our  books  and  records 

As  regards  the  question  of  weights  we  would  state  that  our  country  elevators  are 
equipped  with  the  most  approved  and  reliable  scales  made  that  they  are  carefully  and 
thoroughly  examined  and  tested  from  time  to  time  by  agents  traveling  superintendents  and 
scale  experts  that  our  agents  are  not  paid  to  rob  the  farmers  that  they  have  nothing  to 
gain  by  doing  so  and  that  the  farmer  of  to-day  is  too  intelligent  not  to  read  the  scales  and 
not  to  know  what  he  is  entitled  to  that  as  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  grain  grown  in 
the  Northwest  is  weighed  up  at  and  marketed  through  the  country  elevators  any  loss 
which  might  result  by  reason  of  irregularities  the  existence  of  which  we  deny  in  weights 
at  terminal  points  would  fall  on  the  country  elevators  not  on  the  farmers 

With  this  statement  of  facts  and  the  tender  of  proof  before  you  we  trust  that  you 
will  give  our  request  for  a  righting  of  the  wrong  done  us  your  early  and  favorable  con- 
sideration 

You  have  either  been  misquoted  or  misinformed  and  in  either  case  you  will  when 
in  possession  of  the  facts  as  they  exist  and  with  the  same  publicity  that  has  been  given 
your  purported  statements  correct  the  impressions  conveyed  to  the  public  by  the  publi- 
cation referred  to  viz  that  the  elevator  companies  are  robbing  the  farmers  of  the  North- 
west in  the  matter  of  grades  and  weights 

Very  truly  yours 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  45 


Name Grade . 


EXERCISE   11 


Punctuate  the   following  article  :  (Deduct   two   per  cent   for   each   error.) 

DE3CLARATION    OF    IXDEPEXDENCE 

When  in  the  course  of  human  events  it  becomes  necessarj'  for  one  people  to  dissolve 
the  political  bands  which  have  connected  them  with  another  and  to  assume  among  the 
powers  of  the  earth  the  separate  and  equal  station  to  which  the  laws  of  nature  and  of 
nature's  God  entitle  them  a  decent  respect  to  the  opinions  of  mankind  requires  that  they 
should  declare  the  causes  which  impel  them  to  the  separation 

■  We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident  that  all  men  are  created  equal  that  they  are 
endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights  that  among  these  are  life  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness  that  to  secure  these  rights  governments  are  instituted  among 
men  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed  that  whenever  any 
form  of  government  becomes  destructive  of  these  ends  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter 
or  abolish  it  and  to  institute  a  new  government  laying  its  foundation  on  such  principles 
and  organizing  its  powers  in  such  form  as  to  them  shall  seem  most  likely  to  effect  their 
safety  and  happiness  Prudence  indeed  will  dictate  that  governments  long  established 
should  not  be  changed  for  light  and  transient  causes  and  accordingly  all  experience  hath 
shown  that  mankind  are  more  disposed  to  suffer  while  evils  are  sufferable  than  to  right 
themselves  by  abolishing  the  forms  to  which  they  are  accustomed  But  when  a  long  train 
of  abuses  and  usurpations  pursuing  invariably  the  same  object  evinces  a  design  to  reduce 
them  under  absolute  despotism  it  is  their  right  it  is  their  duty  to  throw  off  such  govern- 
ment and  to  provide  new  guards  for  their  future  security  Such  has  been  the  patient 
sufferance  of  these  colonies  and  such  is  now  the  necessity  which  constrains  them  to  alter 
their  former  systems  of  government  The  history  of  the  present  king  of  Great  Britain 
is  a  history  of  repeated  injuries  and  usurpations  all  having  in  direct  object  the  establish- 
ment of  an  absolute  tyranny  over  these  states  To  prove  this  let  facts  be  submitted  to  % 
candid  world    *    *    *    * 

We  therefore  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  general  con- 
gress assembled  appealing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  world  for  the  rectitude  of  our 
intentions  do  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  good  people  of  these  colonies 
solemnly  publish  and  declare  that  these  united  colonies  are  and  of  right  ought  to  be  free 
and  independent  states  that  they  are  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown 
and  that  all  political  connection  between  them  and  the  state  of  Great  Britain  is  and  ought 
to  be  totally  dissolved  and  that  as  free  and  independent  states  they  have  full  power  to 
levy  war  conclude  peace  contract  alliances  establish  commerce  and  to  do  all  other  acts  and 
things  which  independent  states  may  of  right  do  And  for  the  support  of  this  declaration 
with  a  firm  reliance  on  the  protection  of  Divine  Providence  we  mutually  pledge  to  each 
other  our  lives  our  fortunes  and  our  most  sacred  honor      Thomas  Jefferson 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  47 

LESSON  VII 


RULES  FOR  CAPITALIZATION 

Capitalize : 

1.  The  first  word  in  every  sentence,  and  the  first  word  of  every  line 
of  poetry ;  as, 

1.  Our  salesman  will  be  in  Scranton  the  latter  part  of  next  week.     He  has 

with  him  a  very  complete  line  of  the  latest  novelties  from  Paris. 

2.  Neither  a  borrower  nor  a  lender  be, 

For  loan  oft  loses  both  itself  and  friend. — Shakespeare. 

2.  The  important  words  in  the  title  of  a  book,  or  in  the  subject  of 
any  other  composition ;  as, 

1.  "Applied    Business    Punctuation,"    "Rational    Typewriting,"    "Letters    from 

a  Self-Made  Merchant  to  his  Son." 

2.  "The   Cultural  and  Practical  Value   of  the   Study  of  Shorthand,"  "Robert 

Emmet's  Speech  on  his  Trial  and   Conviction   for  High  Treason." 

3.  Every  direct  quotation  or  the  first  word  of  a  cited  speech ;  as, 

1.  He  said,  "Haste  makes  waste." 

2.  On  departing,  he  said:     "Never  shall  I  forget  this  event." 

3.  I   thought  to   myself:     "This   is   the   day   of  all   days." 

Observation. — The  first  word  of  an  indirect  quotation  should  not  begin  with  a  cap- 
ital unless  the  operation  of  some  other  rule  requires  it;  as, 

1.  He  reminded  us  that  to    save    time   is   to  lengthen  life. 

2.  The  old  adage   is  true  that  haste  makes  waste. 


as. 


4.  The  first  word  after  a  colon  when  introducing  a  complete  passage ; 

1.  In  conclusion,   I   desire  to  say:     We  now  have   this  phase  of  the   matter 

under  discussion  and  will  reach  a  decision  this  week. 

2.  His  suggestion  was  to  this  effect:     That  they  proceed  with  their  separate 

families  to  a  certain  point  and  there  join  the  colonists  from   Plymouth. 

3.  Replying  to  your  letter  of  recent  date:      We  have  looked  up  your  original 

order   and   tind   that  it   was   for   ten   cases,  which   were   shipped   you   on 
the  21st. 

5.  The  first  word  in  the  complimentary  closing  of  a  letter ;  as, 

1.  Yours  very  truly, 

2.  Respectfully  yours, 

3.  Sincerely  your  friend, 


48  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

6.  Proper  nouns  and  proper  adjectives;  as, 

1.  "We  join  ourselves,"  wrote  Choate,  "to  no  party  that  does  not   carry  the 

American   flag." 

2.  A  Frenchman  must  always  l)e  talking,  whether  he  knows  anything  of  the 

matter   or   not. — Dr.  Johnson. 

3.  Broad-breasted    Spain,  leaning   with  equal  love 

On  the  Mid  Sea  that  moans  with  memories. — George  Eliot. 

7.  Every  personified  noun ;  as, 

1.  How  wonderful  is  Death! 

Death  and  his  brother  Sleep. — Sliellcy. 

2.  Where    art    thou,    beloved    To-morrow? — Sliellcy. 


as, 


8.  In  resolutions,  the  first  word  following  '"Whereas"  and  "Resolved;" 

1.  Whereas,  The  said  plaintiff,  on  the  last  day  aforesaid,  in  the  county  afore- 

said, etc. 

2.  Resolved,   That   no   dispute  between   nations,   except   such   as   may   involve 

the   national   life   and   independence,   should    be    reserved    from    arbitra- 
tion. 

9.  As  a  rule,  nouns  followed  by  a  numeral  indicating  their  order  in 
a  sequence — particularly  in  the  case  of  a  Roman  numeral  capitalized ;  as, 

1.  Grade  IV;  Art.  Ill;  Act  V;  Book  III;  Part  XI. 

2.  No.  63;  Section  17;  Vol.  II,  Ch.  5. 

10.  The  principal  words  in  business  and  residence  addresses : 

1.  Hon.  Alexander  McDowell,  House  of  Representatives,  W'ashington,  D.   C. 

2.  Mr.   L.  S.  Young,  care  of  First   National   Bank,  Philadelphia   Pa. 

11.  The  pronoun  'T"  and  the  interjection  "O;"  as, 

1.  Thou   canst   not   saj^   I    did   it. — SJiakcspearc. 

2.  The  star-spangled  banner,  O  long  may  it  wave! 

3.  Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  O  death. — Mrs.  Hevians. 

Observation — "Oh,"   however,   is  usuallj^  written   with   a   small  letter;   as, 

1.  Save,  save,  oh  save  me  from  the  candid  friend! — Canning. 

2.  But  oh !   she  dances  such  a  way ! — Suckling. 

12.  The  abbreviations  "C.  O.  D.,"  "P.  O.,"  "A.  D.,"  etc. 
Observation. — However,   "a.    m.,"   "p.    m.,"   "f.    o.    b.,"   are    preferably    written 

with   the   small  letters. 

13.  Abbreviations  of  titles  like  "D.  D.,"  "M.  P.,"  "Ph.  D.,"  etc. 
Observation. — Do  not  capitalize   these   titles   when   spelled   out   in   full;   write 

"doctor   of  divinity,"  "member   of  parliament,"   "doctor  of  philosophy." 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  49 

14.  The  names  of  the  days  of  the  week  and  the  months  of  the  year, 
but  not  the  seasons,  unless  they  are  personified;  as, 

1.  The  Sunday   is   the   core   of   our   civilization. — Emerson. 

2.  The   new-born   May, 

As  cradled  yet  in  April's  lap  she   lay. — Erasmus  Darwin. 

3.  One  swallow  maketh  not  summer. 

4.  Take  Winter  as  you  find  him,  and  he  turns  out  to  be  a  thoroughly  hon- 

est fellow  with  no  nonsense  in  him. — Lozvell. 

15.  Civic  and  ecclesiastical  feast-days;  as, 

1.  Labor   Day,   Thanksgiving   Day,    Decoration    Day,   Fourth   of  July. 

2.  Easter,   Whitsunday,   Pentecost. 

16.  Specific  geographical  terms,  and  the  points  of  the  compass  when 
Ihey  denote  definite  parts  of  a  country ;'  as, 

1.  The  North  Pole,  the  Equator,  the  Orient,  the  Levant. 

2.  An  aristocracy  had  grown  up  in  the  South. 

3.  All  his  life  he  had  lived  east  of  the  Mississippi  Riveij,  but  in  his  fiftieth 

year  he  and  his  family  settled  in  the  West — first  in  Colorado  and  later 
in  New  Mexico. 

17.  Every  title  of  honor  or  respect,  civil  or  military,   preceding  the 
names ;  as, 

1.  Professor    John    Morley,    President   Taft,    Congressman    French,    Senator 

Hoar,  Mayor  Davidson,   Captain   Hale,  Rear-admiral   Dewey. 

2.  The  President  (of  the  United  States),  the  Kaiser,  the  King,  the  Emperor, 

the   Pope   (with   reference   to   these   rulers). 

18.  Every  name  or  title  of  the  Deity;  as, 

1.  When   God  had  worked  six  days,  He  rested  on  the   seventh. — Old   Testa- 

ment. 

2.  From  Thee,  great  God,  we  spring,  to  Thee  we  tend. — Dr.  Johnson. 

3.  Almighty,  Everlasting  God,  to  Thee  we  bow. 

19.  Books  and  divisions  of  the  Bible;  as, 

1.  Book  of  Job,  Gospel  of  St.  Luke,   First   Epistle  to  the   Corinthians,  New 

Testament. 

2.  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  Lord's  Prayer,  Ten  Commandments. 

20.  The  names  of  religious  denominations  or  sects,  political  parties, 
and  philosophical,  artistic  and  literary  schools;  as, 

1.  Catholic,  Methodism,  Episcopalian,   Baptist,  Quaker. 

2.  Republican  party,   Socialist   party,    Liberal  party,   Whigs. 

3.  Theosophist,  Literalist,  the  Realistic  school  of  painting. 

21.  The  official   titles   of   religi'ous,   social,  political,   commercial,   and 

industrial  organizations  and  institutions ;  as, 

1.     Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Epworth  League,  West  End  Woman's 
Club. 


50  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

2.  Tammany  Hall,  Kings  County  Democracy,  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  Inter- 

State    Commerce    Commission. 

3.  University  of   the   City  of   New   York,   LaSalle    Institute,   North    Division 

High  School. 
Observation. — Do  not  capitalize  such  generic  terms  (a)  when  used  to  designate 
a  class;  (b)  when  standing  alone,  even  if  applied  to  a  specific  institution,  except  to 

avoid  ambiguity;  as, 

1.  The    various    commercial    associations    of    the    city    are    to    hold    a    monster    mass 

meeting. 

2.  The  high  school   at   Springfield   is  considered  the  best   in   the  county. 

3.  The  Institute  announces  a   course  in   advanced  pedagogy,   beginning  October   i. 

Observation. — Capitalize  the  word  "government,"  however,  when  it  applies  to 
the  United  States   Government,  or  definitely  to  a  foreign  government.' 

22.  The  names  of  governmental  departinents,  legislative,  administra- 
tive and  judicial  bodies,  when  specifically  applied;  as, 

1.  Congress,   House   of   Representatives,  the   Senate,   House   of   Commons. 

2.  Board  of  Aldermen,  Department  of  Public  Roads,  War   Department,  Su- 

preme Court. 

23.  Names  of  important  and  accepted  historical  events  and  epochs ;  as, 

1.  Revolutionary   War,   War  of   Independence,   Franco-Prussian   War,   Louis- 

iana Purchase,  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  the  Inquisition,  the  Middle  Ages, 
the  Age  of  Elizabeth. 

2.  'Tis   the   talent   of   our    English   nation. 

Still  to  be  plotting  some   new   Reformation. — Dryden. 

24.  Numbered  political  divisions;  as, 

1.  The  Thirty-fourth  Ward  vote  was  unusually  large   this   year. 

2.  Judge    Mackey   was    delegated   to    represent    the    Fourth    Precinct    at    the 

nominating  convention. 
Observation. — Such  words  as  "ward,"  "precinct,"   etc.,  are  frequently  written 
with  a  small  letter. 

25.     The  names  of  streets,  boulevards,  parks,  buildings,  etc. ;  as, 

1.  Garfield  Avenue,  Tremont  Square,  St.  Charles  Place,  Thirty-second  Street. 

2.  Jackson   Park,   Botanical   Gardens,   Greenwood   Cemetery. 

3.  Congressional    Library,   St.    Regis    Hotel,    White    House. 
Observation. — Many  newspapers  do  not  capitalize  "street,"  "avenue,"  "boule- 
vard," etc.     (See  page   16,  "Applied  Business   English.") 

26.     The  chief  items  in  an  enumeration  of  particulars;  as, 
Please  send  us  at  once  the  following  order: 
25  lbs.  Mocha  and  Java  Coffee 
10-gal.  case  New  Orleans  Molasses 
25  Bushels  Potatoes 
10  boxes  Sapolio 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  51 


Navic <^''«^'' 

EXERCISE   12 
Underscore  each  word  in  the  following  sentences  that  should  begin 

with    a    capital    letter.  (Deduct  one  per  cent  for  each  error.) 

1.  the  association  has  gained  many  new  memljcrs. 

2.  our  finest  department  store  is  located  on   state   street. 

3.  the  street  was  closed   to  traffic. 

4.  thomas  hood's  "song  of  the  shirt"  is  one  of  the  classics  of  the  english 

language. 

5.  this   song  is  too  difficult  for  our  class. 

6.  on  that   one  point   the  democrats  and  the   republicans  hold  precisely  the 

same  view. 

7.  mr.   robert   j.   campbell,   president   of  the  hartford  civic   league,  is   a   man 

of  democratic   principles. 

8.  the   many  petty   revolutionary  wars   that   mark   the   history   of   the   south 

american    republics    have    been    due    to   fundamental    defects    in    the    na- 
tional  constitutions. 

9.  *section   1,  art.  II,  of  the   constitution   of  the  united   states,  provides   for 

the   election   of   the   president. 

10.  the  revolutionary  war,  which  resulted  in  the  independence  of  the  thirteen 

original   states,  had  its  direct  cause  in  the  tyranny  of  the  king  of  eng- 
land. 

11.  the   twenty-two  united   states  of  Switzerland  form  the   swiss   federal   re- 

public;  each  of  these   states  is  known  as   a   canton. 

12.  canton   is   an   important   city   in   china. 

13.  the  oppression  of  the  king  led  the  people  to  make  a  declaration  of  their 

independence. 

14.  the  american  declaration  of  independence  was  signed  in  Philadelphia  on  July 

4.   1776,   in   the   old   state   house,   ever   since   called   independence   hall. 

15.  there  will  be  special  classes  for  teachers  during  the   spring  and  summer. 

16.  magnificent   autumn!     he   comes   like   a   warrior,   with   the   stain   of   blood 

upon   his   brazen   mail,     his  crimson   scarf   is   rent,     his    scarlet    banner 

drips    with    gore,     his    step  is    like    a    flail    upon    the    threshing-floor.— 
Longfelloii'. 

17.  president    lincoln,    president  garfield,    and    president    mckinley    are    our 

three  martyred  presidents. 

18.  the  sun  rises  in  the  east. 

19.  he  attended  one   of  the   best  universities   in   the   east— i   believe   he   said 

it  was  harvard  university. 

20.  William  shakespeare  is  undoubtedly  the  world's  greatest  poet. 

21.  why  have  we  no  shakespeares  to-day? 

22.  blessed  be  god,  the  father  of  mercies  and  the  god  of  all  comfort.— AVzt/ 

Testavient. 


52  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

23.  my  father  told  me  an  interesting  story  about  the  greek  god  mercury. 

24.  this  letter  is  to  mr.  martin  c.  Stanley,  manager  of  the  boston  branch  of 

the  metropolitan  life  insurance  co.,  which  has  its  ofiiccs  in  the  security 
building. 

25.  my  uncle  is  a   member  of  congress. 

26.  his  address  is  hon.  Joseph  p.  wilson,  m.  c,  Washington,  d.  c. 

27.  the  president  vetoed  the  bill,  although  it   had  been  passed  by  both   the 

house  and  the  senate. 

28.  the   secretary  of  the  interior   and   the   chief  justice   of  the   united   state's 

were   both   present  at   the   reception. 

29.  one  of  the  sentences  in  the  thanksgiving  proclamation  for  the  year  1908 

reads  as  follows:  "now,  therefore,  i,  theodore  roosevelt,  president  of 
the  united  states,  do  set  apart  thursday,  the  26th  day  of  november 
next,  as  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  and  prayer. 

30.  mr.   william  Johnston  is  a   candidate   for  alderman   in   the   twenty-fourth 

ward. 

31.  both    the    university    of    illinois    and    the    university    of    new    york    offer 

courses  in  commerce  and  finance. 

32.  i  wish  to  make  this  statement:     if  we  do  not  persist  in  the  undertaking, 

we  cannot  expect  to  succeed. 

33.  he  belonged  to  the  impressionistic  school  of  artists.  • 
3-i.     that   self-conquest  is  a   true   victory  cannot   be   controverted. 

35.  he  said,  "self-conquest  is  a  true  victory." 

36.  the  university  announces  a  free  lecure  course  to  begin  tuesday,  January  10. 

37.  dr.   cook   claims   to   have   reached   the   pole   first;    he   was   beset    by   manj' 

perils  in  his  travel  north. 

38.  the   government  has  taken  formal   charge   of  the   canal   construction. 

39.  when   he   completes   his   present   year   at   the   university   he   will   have    se- 

cured the  degree  of  a.  b. 

40.  the   english   professor  assigned  us   locke's   "essay   on    the   human   under- 

standing" for  study. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 

LESSON  VIII 


BUSINESS  CORRESPONDENCE  AND  CORRECT  FORMS 

A  large  part  of  the  world's  business  is  at  the  present  time  carried  on  by 
correspondence.  It  necessarily  follows,  then,  that  a  business  letter,  in  order  to 
get  results,  should  be  well  worded,  correctly  spelled,  and  tastefully  arranged. 
While  good  wording  is  of  primary  importance,  the  mechanical  arrangement 
should  not  be  underestimated. 

"There  is  a  great  deal  in  the  first  impression,"  and  it  not  infrequently 
happens  that  a  letter  that  is  neat  and  tastefully  arranged,  although  it  may 
contain  poorly-constructed  sentences,  carries  more  force  with  it  than  a  letter 
that  is  well  worded,  but  otherwise  lacking  in  the  minor  details  that  go  to  make 
up  a  pleasing,  attractive,  and  finished  business  letter. 

The  principles  of  correct  expression  have  been  treated  in  the  preceding 
lessons ;  hence  in  the  lessons  to  follow  we  shall  confine  ourselves  principally  to 
the  mechanical  part  of  the  subject. 

As  in  everything  else,  custom  has  decreed  that  the  business  letter  shall 
follow  certain  conventional  forms  based  upon  convenience  and  clearness,  and 
the  wise  letter-writer  will  not  depart  far  from  these  prescribed  forms.  The 
business  letter  consists  of  six  distinct  parts,  as  follows : 

1.  The  heading 

2.  TJic  address 

3.  The  salutation 

4.  The  body 

5.  The  covipUinentary  close 

6.  The  signature. 

Study  very  carefully  the  model  letter  given  on  the  following  page,  noting 
the  relative  positions  of  the  different  parts. 


54  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


Indiajiapolis ,  Ind., 

June  3,  1909 


Mr.  W.  C.  Jackson, 

Gen.  Mgr.,  American  Lumber  Co.,, 
Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 

Dear  Sir: 

Mr.  B.  A.  Hayes,  the  bearer  of  this 
letter,  has  been  in  our  employ  in  the  res- 
taurant business  for  over  a  year,  and  in 
that  time  has  proved  himself  worthy  of 
confidence.   His  work  was  always  care- 
fully and  honestly  performed,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  we  give  him  this  let- 
ter, regretting  the  fact  that  his  health 
compels  him  to  give  up  his  present  posi- 
tion. 

You  will  find  Mr.  Hayes  ever  honest, 
energetic,  and   willing  in  all  ways  to  make 
your  wishes  his  first  care. 

Further  correspondence  will  be  cheer- 
fully answered. 

Respectfully, . 

B.  M.  FOSTER  &   SON, 


prf/ecd 


Secretary. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  55 


Name Grade. 

EXERCISE  13 


Through  the  influence  of  the  foregoing  letter  you  have  secured  the  position 
with  the  American  Lumber  Company.  In  the  blank  space  below,  write  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Foster  thanking:  him  for  his  letter  of  recommendation. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  57 

LESSON   IX 


THE  PARTS  OF  A  LETTER 

The  Heading 
The  heading  of  a  letter  consists  of  the  name  of  the  place  at  which  the 
letter  is  written  and  the  date  when  it  is  written.  When  the  writer's  address  is 
a  large  city,  the  street  number  or  the  number  of  the  post  office  box  should  be 
given;  if  his  address  is  a  small  town,  the  county  should  be  given.  The  heading 
should  be  placed  at  least  two  inches  from  the  top,  and  should  not  extend  to  the 
left  of  the  middle  of  the  page.  It  may  consist  of  one,  two  or  three  lines, 
according  to  the  information  it  contains.  The  dififerent  parts  of  the  heading 
should  be  separated  by  commas.  A  period  should  be  placed  at  the  close  and 
after  all  abbreviations.  (See  models.)  Business  firms  usually  use  printed 
letterheads,  in  which  case  the  stenographer  merely  fills  in  the  date,  which 
should  be  on  a  direct  line  with  the  printed  heading. 

The  Address 
The  address  of  a  letter  consists  of  the  name,  the  title,  and  the  place  of 
business  or  residence  of  the  person  to  whom  the  letter  is  written.  Only  one  title 
should  be  used.  Titles  and  degrees,  or  words  representing  the  person's  official 
capacity,  however,  may  be  used  when  one  does  not  include  the  other.  In  formal 
business  letters  the  address  should  be  placed  at  the  top,  but  in  letters  to  friends 
it  may  be  written  in  the  lower  left  corner.  The  address  may  consist  of  two  or 
three  lines,  according  to  the  length.  The  parts  should  be  separated  by  commas, 
A  period  should  be  placed  at  the  close  and  after  every  abbreviation.  (See 
models.) 

The  Salutation 
The  salutation  is  the  term  of  respect  or  politeness  with  which  a  letter  is 
always  begun.  The  salutation  depends  on  the  degree  of  familiarity  existing 
between  the  correspondents.  The  terms  usually  used  in  business  correspond- 
ence are:  "Dear  Sir,"  "My  dear  Sir,"  "Dear  Sirs."  "Gentlemen,"  "Madam." 
"My  dear  j\Iadam,"  and  "IMesdames."  It  is  regarded  as  exceedingly  vulgar  to 
abbreviate  any  part  of  the  salutation ;  as,  "Gents,"  "Dr.  Srs.,"  etc.  The  saluta- 
tion should  follow  the  address,  and  should  be  followed  by  a  colon.  Only  the 
first  and  last  words  should  be  capitalized.     (See  models.) 

The  Body  of  the  Letter 
The  body  of  the  letter  is  the  written  message  which  the  letter  contains.  The 
position  of  the  letter  on  the  page  has  much  to  do  with  giving  it  an  attractive 


58  APPLIED  BUSIXESS  PUNCTUATION 

appearance.  Careful  calculation  as  to  the  length  of  the  letter  should  always 
be  made  from  the  shorthand  notes  before  beginning  the  transcript  so  that  the 
letter  may  be  properly  balanced.  Of  course,  the  position  depends  on  the  length 
of  the  letter  and  the  taste  of  the  writer.  A  pleasing  effect  is  produced  by 
placing  the  letter  as  near  the  middle  of  the  sheet  as  is  possible.  Each  subject 
should  be  discussed  in  a  separate  paragraph.  All  paragraphs  should  be  uni- 
formly indented.  It  often  facilitates  the  reading  of  the  letter  to  leave  extra 
space  between  the  paragraphs.  Excessive  paragraphing  should  be  avoided. 
Although  every  sentence  conveys  a  difit'erent  thought,  all  sentences  pertaining  to 
the  same  subject  should  be  placed  in  the  same  paragraph.  A  paragraph  may 
contain  only  one  line,  in  which  case  the  next  sentence  should  begin  as  usual  at 
the  regular  paragraph  space.  Always  treat  the  various  topics  in  the  order  of 
their  importance,  and  in  answering  a  letter,  answer  all  questions  in  the  order 
in  which  they  are  asked. 

While  the  letter  should  be  brief,  brevity  must  not  be  secured  at  the  expense 
of  clearness.  In  other  words,  a  good  business  letter  must  be  only  as  brief  as  is 
consistent  with  clearness;  it  must  be  to  the  point,  clear-cut,  coherent,  and 
courteous. 

Complimentary  Close 

The  complimentary  close  is  the  formal  ending  of  a  letter  and,  like  the 
salutation,  should  depend  on  the  degree  of  familiarity  existing  between  the 
correspondents.  The  common  forms  are :  "Yours  truly,"  "Yours  very  truly," 
"Yours  respectfully,"  "Yours  very  respectfully,"  and  the  equivalents,  "Truly 
yours,"  "Very  truly  yours,"  "Respectfully  yours,"  and  "Xevy  respectfully 
yours."  "Cordially  yours"  is  also  common  in  familiar  correspondence.  The 
complimentary  close  should  begin  at  the  middle  of  the  page.  Capitalize  the 
first  word  only,  and  place  a  comma  at  the  close.     (See  models.) 

The  Signature 

The  signature  consists  of  the  name  of  the  writer  or  of  the  firm  of  which 
he  is  a  representative.  An  individual  signature  should  be  written  with  a  pen, 
while  firm  names  may  be  typewritten  or  stamped  with  a  rubber  stamp,  in 
which  case  the  writer  of  the  letter  should  sign  his  own  name  or  initials  with  a 
pen.  The  signature  should  not  extend  to  the  right  of  the  margin  and  should 
always  be  written  in  the  same  way.  In  writing  to  a  stranger  a  lady  may  prefix 
"Aliss"  or  "Mrs."  to  her  signature  and  inclose  it  in  parentheses,  but  it  is  now 
considered  better  form  for  her  to  sign  her  own  name  and  place  her  married  or 
unmarried  title  in  the  lower  left  corner.     (See  models.) 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  59 

Model  1 

West  York,  111.,  June  1,  1909 

Mr.  W.  C,   Young, 

Streator,  111. 

Dear  Sir: 

When  shall  I  be  able  to  see  you  in  regard  to  your  case? 

Yours  very  truly. 

Model  2 

Melrose,  Clark  County,  111., 
June  14,  1909 

John  Keller,  Esq., 

Justice  of  the  Peace, 
430  Wabash  Ave. , 

Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Dear  Sir: 

We  shall  be  ready,  etc. 


Respectfully  yours, 
DODD  &  DODD, 
By 


Model  3 


100  Randolph  st. , 

Chicago,  111.,  June  5,  1909 


Feeley  &  Blake, 

Fifteenth  and  Howard  sts., 
Omaha,  Nebr. 

Gentlemen: 

As  we  have  been  informed,  etc. 


Yours  truly, 
THE  CARTER  PUBLISHING  COI/PANY, 

By 

President. 


60  APPLIED  BUS IX ESS  PUNCTUATION 

Model  4 

St. Louis,  Mo.,  June  10,  1909 

Mr.  H.  A.  Burchfield, 

Supt.,  Evansville  &  Princeton  Electric  R.  Rv 

Ford  Branch,  Ind. 

Dear  Sir: 

Your  letter,  etc. 

Very  truly  yours, 


Model  5 

Kansas  City,  May  2,  1909 

Wood-Weaver  Printing  Company, 

120  East  Ohio  Street, 

Indianapolis ,  Ind . 

Gentlemen: 

Please   ship  me  at  once,   etc. 

Yours  very  truly, 


Model  6 

Chicago,  June  19,  1909 

Department  of  Agriculture, 

Bureau  of  Animal  Industry, 

Dr.  A.  D.  Melvin,  Chief  of  Bureau, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Dear  Sir: 

Your  letter  of  the  lOth  inst.   referring  to,   ete. 

Yours  truly, 

morris"  &  COMPANY, 

Superintendent's  Depi. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  61 

Model  7 

New  York,  June  9,  1909 

Swift  &  Company, 

Union  Stock  Yards, 

Chicago,  Illinois. 

(Attention  of  Mr.  C.  0.  Young.) 

Dear  Sir: 

Kef erring  to  your  letter  of  the  5th  ult.,  etc. 

Yours  truly, 

Model  8 


240  North  Pennsylvania  street, 
Indianapolis,  Ind., 
March  2,  1909 


Mr.  J.  W.  Blackburn,  Attorney, 
Washington,  D.  C. 


My  dear  Sir: 

We  shall  be  ready  for  trial,  etc. 

Very  respectfully, 


«:!^^z^-<.:<,e_     fa .     <^^<-^ 


Mrs.   John  R.  Warner. 


Model  9 

Chicago,    111.,   Jan.    2,    1909 


Mrs.   Martha  Bucheinan, 

14  Plymouth  Court, 
Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Madam-: 

Please  let  me  hear  from  you  at  once. 

Cordially  yours, 

lirs.   James  Cooley, 

237  East  66th  place. 


62  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


Model  10 

Box  237, 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  2,  1909 

Rev.  J.  M.  Thomas,  D.  D., 
Toledo,  Ohio. 

Dear  Sir: 

Your  letter,  etc., 


Respectfully  yours, 


Model  11 

Miss  Mary  E.  Brown, 
Janesville,  Wis. 

Dear  Madam: 

Your  letter  of  yesterday,  etc. 

Cordially  yours, 


Model  12   ' 

Mr.  &  Mrs.  J.  T.  Smith, 
Robinson,  111. 

Dear  Sir  and  Madam: 

Enclosed  please  find,  etc. 

Yours  truly. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  63 


^'«""' Grade. 

EXERCISE   14 


Arrange  and  punctuate  the  following  according  to  the  forms  given : 

1.  Huntsville  111  January  14  Montgomery  Ward  &  Co  Madison  st  and  Michigan 
ave  Chicago  111  Inclosed  find  American  Express  order  for  Yours  truly  J  L  Murphy 

2.  Mexico  Mo  Jan  17  1909  Hon  Clayton  IMarks  President  Board  of  Education 
Chicago  Sir  We  the  pupils  of  the  Walter  Scott  School  hereby  petition  Respectfully 

3.  6642  Harvard  Ave  New  York  City  May  16  1909  To  the  President  White  House 
Washington  D  C  Mr  President  I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant  James 
Simpson  Secretary  of  the  Municipal  Art  League 

4.  114  Baxter  Ave  St  Louis  Mo  May  9  1909  Messrs  Brown  Coleman  &  Brown 
Kansas  City  Mo  Gentlemen  Your  letter  just  received  I  remain  Very  truly  J  N  Lacy  Dept 
Mgr 

5.  Portland  Oregon  June  11  1909  ^Mrs  John  Burton  186  Fleet  street  London  England 
Dear  Mrs  Burton  We  shall  sail  for  England  on  the  25th  Yours  very  truly  J  L  Buford 
Mrs  John  C  Buford  Box  464 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  65 

^'omc Qrade 

EXERCISE   15 

Write  a  letter  to  a  former  employer  asking  for  a  letter  of  recommendation. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  67 

LESSON  X 


SUGGESTIONS  FOR  THE  BUSINESS  LETTER  WRITER 

1.  Clean  type  every  morning. 

2.  Avoid  such  expressions  as  "I  beg  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your 
esteemed  favor,"  "Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  to  be,"  etc. 

3.  Avoid  interlineations  and  postscripts.  Outline  the  letter  before  writ- 
ing, and  no  postscript  will  be  necessary. 

4.  In  answering  a  letter  always  refer  to  its  date. 

5.  Avoid  abbreviations  in  a  letter  as  much  as  possible.  Do  not  abbreviate 
the  name  of  a  state  in  the  body  of  a  letter,  unless  it  constitutes  part  of  an 
address.    Never  abbreviate  the  name  of  a  city. 

6.  Abbreviate  "number"  to  "No."  when  follow^ed  by  the  numeral ;  other- 
wise write  "number"  out  in  full. 

7.  Use  figures  before  "^'"  and  words  before  "per  cent;"  as,  "lO"^'"  and 
"ten  per  cent." 

8.  Spell  out  all  numbers  less  than  one  hundred  except  dates,  time  of  day, 
amounts  of  money,  rates  and  prices,  and  numbers  in  statistical  form.  Some- 
times in  order  to  avoid  error  both  words  and  figures  are  given ;  as,  "Three  hun- 
dred fifty  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  ($350.25)."  (If  figures  alone  are  used, 
the  parentheses  should  be  omitted.) 

9.  Do  not  place  a  comma  between  the  month  and  the  day  of  the  month. 
The  proper  punctuation  is  "June  14,  1909." 

10.  "Nd"  and  "rd"  have  been  superseded  by  "d ;"  as :  "2d,"  "3d,"  etc. 

11.  \Mien  the  month  precedes  a  date  expressed  in  figures,  the  best  news- 
papers and  magazines  do  not  use  the  affixes  "d,"  "st,"  and  "th ;"  as,  "Your 
letter  of  November  6  is  received."  When  the  month  follows  or  is  not  expressed, 
the  affixes  are  used;  "as,  "The  6th  of  November,"  "The  6th  inst."  ]\Iany  busi- 
ness men,  however,  prefer  to  use  the  afifixes  except  when  the  year  follows ;  as, 
"November  6th,"  "November  6,  1909." 

12.  Consult  the  dictionary  when  in  doubt  about  the  division  of  a  word  at 
the  end  of  a  line.    Never  divide  a  syllable. 

13.  Avoid  the  use  of  the  sign  "&"  except  in  names  of  firms  and  railroads. 
If  the  sign  "&"  is  used,  abbreviate  "Company ;"  if  the  sign  "&"  is  not  used,  spell 
out  "Company." 

14.  Leave  at  least  an  inch  and  a  quarter  margin  at  the  bottom  of  each 
sheet  when  the  letter  occupies  more  than  one  page. 


68  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUXCTUATION 

15.  If  a  letter  consists  of  more  than  one  page,  use  the  printed  letterhead 
for  first  sheet  only,  and  blank  sheets  for  the  succeeding  pages.  These  blank 
pages  are  called  second-sheets. 

16.  Do  not  begin  a  paragraph  on  the  last  line  of  a  page,  and  always 
arrange  the  letter  so  that  there  will  be  at  least  three  lines  on  the  second  page. 

17.  The  second  and  succeeding  pages  of  a  letter  should  contain  the  initials 
of  the  person  to  whom  the  letter  is  addressed,  the  date  of  the  letter,  and  the 
number  of  the  page;  this  should  be  written  four  spaces  from  the  top  of  the 
page. 

18.  Always  be  careful  to  leave  plenty  of  room  for  the  writer's  signature. 

19.  A  letter  not  exceeding  ten  lines  in  length  should  be  written  with 
double  space  between  the  lines  ;  write  all  others  with  single  space.  \\' hen  using 
single  space  makes  a  double  space  between  the  paragraphs. 

20.  \Mien  an  inclosure  is  made  in  a  letter,  always  make  a  notation  to  that 
effect  in  the  lower  left  corner.  This  information  is  for  the  benefit  of  the  person 
that  puts  up  the  mail.    Unless  this  is  done,  inclosures  are  likely  to  be  overlooked. 

21.  If  you  inclose  a  stamp,  do  not  mention  it.    It  is  in  poor  taste  to  do  so. 

22.  The  initials  of  both  the  stenographer  and  the  dictator  should  be  placed 
in  the  lower  left  corner  of  the  letter. 

23.  In  folding  a  letter,  grasp  the  lower  left  corner  and  turn  it  upward 
until  the  bottom  comes  within  a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  the  top,  crease  the  fold, 
and  then  fold  from  left  to  right,  and  from  right  to  left,  making  three  equal  divi- 
sions. 

24.  In  directing  envelopes,  always  be  sure  to  insert  the  name  of  the  state 
even  though  the  city  is  a  large  one.  Xever  omit  the  name  of  the  city.  The  word 
"City"  alone  is  not  sufficiently  definite  for  safe  delivery. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  69 


^'ame Grade . 

EXERCISE   16 


Write  a  letter  to  Mr.  Paul  Jones  of  \\'ashington,  D.  C,  introducing  your 
friend,  Air.  James  Snyder,  who  intends  to  spend  a  few  days  in  Washington. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  71 


-^awi^ , Grc.dc 

EXERCISE   17 

Write  a  letter  to  some  well-known  magazine  ordering  a  year's  subscription. 
State  the  amount  and  kind  of  your  remittance  and  with  what  issue  you  want 
your  subscription  to  begin.  Also  ask  for  the  book  that  has  been  offered  as  a 
premium  to  all  new  subscribers. 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  73 

LESSON  XI 


THE  LETTER  OF  APPLICATION 

The  letter  of  application  is  probably  the  most  important  letter  you  will  have 
to  write  at  the  beginning  of  your  business  life.  INIany  of  the  best  positions  are 
secured  through  this  medium,  and  it  is  important  that  }-ou  be  able  to  write  a 
good  letter  of  application  before  leaving  school.  The  primary  purpose  of  a 
letter  of  application  is  to  create  a  favorable  first  impression ;  therefore  overlook 
no  point  that  will  have  anything  to  do  with  making  the  letter  both  attractive  and 
effective.  Of  course,  as  in  all  letters,  the  wording  is  of  prime  importance,  but  it 
should  be  remembered  that  neat  and  artistic  arrangement  is  nowhere  more 
vitally  essential  than  in  the  letter  of  application.  The  letter  that  is  perfect  in 
mechanical  construction  will  frequently  secure  a  reading  where  a  carelessly- 
written  letter,  however  well-composed,  will  be  thrown  into  the  waste  basket. 

Begin  your  letter  of  application  by  stating  the  reason  for  making  the  appli- 
cation ;  it  may  be  general,  in  response  to  a  request,  or  in  answer  to  an  advertise- 
ment. The  second  paragraph  should  state  age  and  qualifications.  In  giving 
your  qualifications  do  not  recount  your  entire  family  and  personal  history,  but 
simply  state,  in  one  or  two  terse  sentences,  your  educational  preparation  and 
the  experiences  that  have  the  most  important  bearing  on  the  work  mto  which 
you  seek  entrance.  It  is  unnecessary  to  make  extended  reference  to  experience 
that  would  have  no  possible  value  in  your  prospective  position.  To  say,  for 
instance,  you  have  had  four  years'  experience  as  grocery  clerk,  would  not  help 
you  in  securing  a  position  as  correspondent. 

In  the  next  paragraph  the  names  and  addresses  of  references  should  be 
given  when  they  are  requested.  One  or  two  are  usually  sufficient,  as  to  give 
a  long  list  of  former  employers  wall  create  the  impression  that  you  are  a  "rolling 
stone."  The  matter  of  salary  should  be  left  until  the  last.  A  great  deal  of  tact, 
indeed,  is  required  to  handle  this  subject  in  the  right  w'ay,  and  it  is  sometimes 
advisable  not  to  mention  it  at  all  unless  you  have  been  requested  to  do  so. 

The  letter  should  close  with  an  appropriate  sentence,  usually  with  the 
request  for  a  personal  interview  where  this  is  possible. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  inclose  a  stamp  for  a  reply ;  a  stamp  will  not  insure 
an  answer  to  a  poor  letter  of  application. 


74  APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION 


Study  carefully  the  following  model  letter: 

2800  Lsdcewood  Ave., 
Chicago,  111., 

June  11,  1909 
Mr.  Thomas  G.  Hoy, 

Aud.,  M.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.  Co., 
Minneapolis,  Minn. 
Dear  Sir: 

Mr.  Charles  Norton  of  your  office  has  informed  me  that  you 
▼ill  take  on  a  new  stenographer  next  week.   As  I  intend  to  come 
to  Minneapolis  in  a  few  days  I  should  like  you  to  consider  me  as 
an  applicant  for  the  position. 

I  was  graduated  at  the  John  Marshall  High  School  of  this  city 
last  June.   I  am  at  present  a  student  in  the  Blank  Commercial 
School,  and  expect  to  finish  the  prescribed  course  tMs  week.   I 
am  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  single.   I  do  not  use  tobacco  in 
any  form. 

During  my  summer  vacations  for  the  past  four  years  I  have 
been  employed  as  general  office  assistant  in  the  office  of  Mr.  A. 
V.  Hartwell,  P.  A.,  C.  &  A.  R.  R. ,  Chicago.   I  am  permitted  to 
refer  you  to  Mr.  Hartwell  as  to  my  character  and  ability. 

I  hope  that  my  application  will  receive  your  favorable  con- 
sideration. 

Respectfully  yours, 


APPLIED  BUSINESS  PUNCTUATION  75 


Name Grade . 

EXERCISE  18 


Answer  the  following  advertisement,  using  the  blank  space  below : 

Wanted — A  stenographer  to  take  charge  of  the  correspondence  of  a  commission 
firm  and  act  as  assistant  bookkeeper.  Either  sex.  State  age,  experience,  references,  and 
salary  expected.    Address  Box  346,  Tribune. 


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